Elf The Musical Jnr

                   

This was my first visit to the Performing Arts Centre and indeed Elf was Abigail’s Performing Arts first performance in the brand-new venue, and I could not have asked for a kinder, lovelier welcome than I received by everyone connected to this super youth group.The Arts Centre is a purpose built, 200-seater venue. There is no stage and Emily, the Assistant Director explained that the cast did initially find it a little bit trickyadapting to this, but adapt to it they did and the result was a very successful production with a cast of 50, aged from just 2 and a half years to 18.  The venue was practically full, and the audience was incredibly enthusiastic throughout the whole show and rightly so!

The floor space was used well, with characters entering via the wings and the set was effective and emphasised the scenes of Elf very effectively. A huge interactive screen was used to show scenes of New York, Central Park, offices, apartments etc and this added a really good atmosphere to the show. Props were brought onto the stage as necessary by backstage crew and cast members and scene changes took place fluently and seamlessly. The sound effects and lighting were good and worked well. The music was provided by backing tracks which had been chosen carefully to achieve a high effect.In general, most characters could be heard at the back of the hall and the microphones worked reasonably well. The costumes and make up were particularly good and every actor looked their part.

Tristan Williams played Buddy and was excellent. He carried off the part superbly well and his acting and singing was spot on throughout the show. His American accent was very realistic – well done. Holli Dixey played the part of Jovie, and she was cast superbly well. Her accent was particularly good, and her acting was strong. However, it was her singing voice that stole the show, and she is a very talented young lady indeed.Daisy Dixey played Walter Hobbs very effectively and the audience warmed to her characterisation of Buddy’s father, who slowly but surely embraces the spirit of Christmas.Emily Hobbs and Michael Hobbs were played by Sage Ashworth and Bella Strong and both actors demonstrated good accents and talented acting and singing voices. They brought real pathos to the show and are to be congratulated for this.

The rest of the cast supported the main characters very well indeed and it was wonderful to see up to fifty young people on the set, acting, singing and dancing, a real spectacle and a real treat.

This was an exceptionally goodshow, and the entire team deserves praise for putting on a thoroughly wonderful performance. The Director and Assistant Directors deserve full credit for orchestrating an excellent show, superbly set, and utilising the talents of fifty young people so effectively.

Well done to everyone concerned!

 

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