Now Playing: ELF—THE MUSICAL Ushers in the Holiday Season at the ORDWAY

With the holiday season right around the corner, its always fun to gather the family and revisit those classically timeless productions. While its not Miracle of 34^th Street or A Christmas Carol, ELF certainly provides families with a little bombastic humor to help get through the stress that always seems to accompany the holidays. The latest production to delight St. Paul audiences is ELF, the musical adaptation of the popular Will Ferrell film, which opened last night, Dec. 7 at The ORDWAY CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS.

ELF is the tale of Buddy (Matt Kopec), an orphaned child who grows up in the North Pole as one of Santa’s helpers, only to discover at the ripe age of 30 that he’s a little unlike the other elves. Not only is he tall, lanky, and all-too boisterous for a 30-year-old, he’s likely to turn heads as he walks through the streets of New York City in his elfish green coat and stripped tights in search of his birth father.

Rather predictably, his birth parents are not the gems Buddy hopes for—his father being a petulant and distant book publisher without time for his wife or lowly son. Despite irritable family dynamics, Buddy graciously assimilates himself with the family, teaching those around him the true meaning of Christmas through flamboyant dance, song, and a little too much eggnog.

If you are simply looking for an excuse to celebrate the holidays in high-spirits, ELF: THE MUSICAL is sure to deliver. It’s a great holiday experience for the whole family, the young and young at heart equally included. It’s never too late to believe in Santa, so gather your holiday spirit and prepare for a sparkly, jolly, rip-roaringly good time.

Photo Credit: Ordway.org