AMATEUR THEATRE REVIEW: Elf Junior - The Forum Theatre, Romiley. Greater Manchester.

We all need a little Christmas magic, right? And when NKTA (North West Theatre Arts) has hundreds of eagre and very young children in their school, all keen and anxious to have their moment on stage, then what better than to find a fun, easy, well-known and loved, seasonal feel-good show for them all to be a part of.

'Elf' first came to our attention in 2003 as a film musical from across the pond, starring Will Ferrell as the rather annoyingly happy oversized eponymous titular character, and the story, the songs, and indeed the message of the film, has stayed with us and become a part of our seasonal cultural experience in the same way that perhaps 'Shrek' and / or (depending on your age and likes) 'Die Hard' have. 

Problems with the microphone crackles and volume levels aside, this was a very upbeat and family-oriented show, which was clearly enjoyed by the myriad of youngsters and family members in this evening's audience. The choreography by Hannah Thomas and Amy Earith was excellent throughout; a superb and arresting start to the show with their dance routine featuring three different age groups / levels superbly, whilst the second act featured a contemporary dance / ballet for the falling snow. Magical!

Using playbacks (backing tracks) has both advantages and drawbacks, and here there were several times when the dialogue / action on stage was not in sync with the start or even finish of the tracks. The set needed a little more 'help' with signposting the different locations at times. This was especially true  with Macy's department store, as we were unaware that that is where we were until half-way through the first scene. Perhaps it might also have been a good idea to have had the human 'elves' (Macy's helpers) dressed differently from the real elves we saw at the North Pole. I also noticed a British newspaper being read in the second act too...! However...

Overall, the acting and singing was of a high standard, and Sam Hardman's Buddy was genial and sympathetic, bringing about a lively personality with good stage presence, contrasting nicely with the more stern and more 'grown-up' adult characters he meets along the way. Special praise must be given however to Jessica Camilleri's portrayal of Jovie. Hitting the 'nerd' button right from the start, we saw her character transform and blossom, judging this beautifully. Moreover, she had a stunning voice too, and fully deserved the longest and best applause of the evening after her rendition of 'Never Fall In Love'. 

Directed by Maisie Noble and Dawn Wrigley, this must have been something of a logistical nightmare - just reading the cast list makes me dizzy! I have counted 141 cast members...wow!! However, somehow they all managed to be on stage in the right place at the right time, and the ensuing result was a true family-oriented, heartwarming, 'happy all the time', show which managed to sprinkle some sparklejollytwinklejingley joy! Congratulations.

Matthew Dougall
on - 30.11.22