Elf the Musical brings Christmas in July to Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Jeri Tidwell Photography

We all know 2020 was a pretty crappy year, right? For most of us, the holiday season was very different than what we normally experienced, with those large family gatherings reduced to video calls over Zoom. Our family decided to celebrate Christmas in July this year to make up for that, and the folks at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, MD had the same thought, wanting to bring some cheer into this world as we begin to emerge from the pandemic, giving audiences something to celebrate with Elf the Musical, which was originally intended to be their holiday offering for 2020. Toby’s did have a smaller scale holiday carols production and has since produced Shrek but for much smaller audiences than normal. With restrictions beginning to lift, the theatre is now able to bring in more people and this is the show to bring happiness to the world, for a few hours at least.

The film Elf was released in 2003 and became an instant holiday classic. The musical version with a score by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin has played the Broadway holiday season for a few years as well as in the West End and a national tour. The show’s story uses the film’s basic premise — Buddy the elf learns he’s actually human and heads to New York City to find his father — but there are many changes as well. The film is narrated by Papa Elf, but here the story is narrated by Santa Claus (DeCarlo Raspberry) with some assist from the Mrs (Kalen Robinson). Buddy (Jeffrey Shankle) is still the overly optimistic creature he was in the film, failing to see any negativity directed toward him. Some details have been changed to keep the show timeless (the store is Macy’s instead of Gimble’s; Santa uses an iPad to hold his list instead of an actual list), and plot details have been omitted altogether or revised. When Buddy finds his father, he’s more of a bumbling publisher than one driven by greed, his job hanging by a thread while trying to come up with a new Christmas story to replace the one that was just released and flopped badly. He’s on Santa’s naughty list now for not believing in the big man. The detail about Santa’s sleigh needing Christmas spirit to fly is retained in the show (and concludes with a really charming special effect). I feel that the role of Jovie has also been reduced significantly from the movie as well. The relationship with Buddy almost seems like an afterthought, as if the writers, Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin, knew they had to include her so just gave us a Cliffs Notes version. At least they gave her a big solo number in Act II. So while the show is similar to the film. it’s also different but no less charming. Don’t expect a carbon copy.

Jeffrey Shankle is wonderful as Buddy. Mr. Shankle has shown his range in a multitude of roles at Toby’s both dramatic and comedic, and here he captures the spirit of the character created by Will Ferrell but makes it his own, using his magnificent voice to deliver both the joyful and sometimes dramatic numbers. If you’re a Toby’s regular, it’s always fun to see what Shankle will do next. As noted above, the lovely MaryKate Brouillet doesn’t get as much story time as Jovie does in the film, but there is enough of an arc for us to believe in the relationship she develops with Buddy, from somewhat snarky to actual love, and Brouillet uses her talent to really make us feel Jovie’s hurt when Buddy forgets their date, especially with her song ‘Never Fall in Love (With an Elf)’.

David Bosley-Reynolds is always on point when he’s playing a character of bluster and little patience, and he also manages to show us the softer side of Walter Hobbs in subtle ways, making his Scrooge-like change by the end of the show all the more believable. Janine Sunday as his wife Emily nicely balances out Walter, sometimes exasperated with him but still devoted to her husband and son. For our performance, Luka Van Herksen took on the role of son Michael (performances rotate with three young actors, including Patrick Ford and Cato Huza), and he did a terrific job. There were some sound issues that made his speaking voice sound a bit muffled, but when he sang you could hear his voice loud and clear. That kid can belt a tune. DeCarlo Raspberry is also wonderful as Santa, bringing both sass and gravitas to the role. And his voice is so powerful. Raspberry also appears throughout the show in a couple of different roles with significantly different looks from his Santa. He is wonderful in each role. Kalen Robinson also brings a sense of fun to the role of Mrs. Claus, and she is seen with different looks as other characters as well (let me tell you, these actors at Toby’s work hard for your enjoyment). And David James moves easily from the giddy elf ensemble at the North Pole to the overbearing CEO of the company Walter Hobbs works for, making him the true villain of the show.

Jeri Tidwell Photography

The ensemble is filled out by Alexis Krey, Justin Calhoun, Shane Lowry, Crystal Freeman, AJ Whittenberger and Patricia Targete, playing everything from elves to office employees to ice skaters and passers-by in New York City. They are all extremely skilled actors, singer and dancers, and when they sing in the group numbers their voices are simply magical. And they all handle the sometimes complicated choreography with ease. It can’t be easy to do those big group numbers in a small space, having to time things perfectly, but there is never a slip up.

And that is where credit is due to the show’s director and choreographer Mark Minnick. He, of course, is a pro at this by now, knowing exactly how to use the small, in-the-round space of Toby’s. He knows precisely where to place the actors, giving them the direction to make sure they never favor one section of the audience over another, especially during the musical numbers. The choreography is also a joy to behold, wondering how the actors are going to criss-cross the stage — and props and sets — without a spill. It all works like a finely oiled machine thanks to Minnick’s superb skills. Making the job of dancing just a little more challenging is the scenic design by David A. Hopkins, which often places large pieces of furniture in the middle of the stage for the big group numbers, which requires the actors to dance on and over to get to the other side of the stage. Even without walls, the sets perfectly transport you from the workshop at the North Pole to Walter Hobbs’ office and NYC apartment, to the ice rink at 30 Rock. Hopkins’ lighting design works together with his sets, and brings a little magic to the stage to give us the sense that it is indeed Christmastime. And Ross Scott Rawlings and his orchestra sound terrific, giving the singers a wonderful accompaniment but never over-powering them thanks to the sounds design of John Pantazis.

And if you’re wondering, Toby’s is still a dinner theatre so there is food. Things are a little different for the moment though with your server bringing a small salad instead of the full salad bar, but the signature buffet is back (table service had been in place prior to this show) with audience members given a disposable glove to use for their serving hand, so you don’t have to worry about people touching the utensils. The food, as always, is delicious from the local corn on the cob to roasted veggies and potatoes to the signature Spinach Funque, ribs, baked tilapia, the carving station … all very, very yummy. The make-your-own sundae station is not currently available but there is dessert, chocolate cake or cheesecake, beverages and the special show drink, The Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins (a name Buddy calls himself at one point), which is a creamy strawberry frozen concoction (which comes in an ‘adult’ and kid-friendly version) that is topped with whipped cream, candy corn and cotton candy, with a sugared rim and a candy cane on the side. Buddy the Elf would most certainly approve. It’s very yummy. And you get to keep the show-branded glass!

2020 was a bad year. But it’s time to try and put that behind us to look ahead to a brighter future and a return to normalcy, especially as 2021 is now half over and before you know it Christmas will be here again. But if you didn’t get to celebrate Christmas in 2020 or just want a little something to lift your spirits, a trip to Toby’s Dinner Theatre to see Elf the Musical is a good way to start. Bring the family, enjoy the delicious food, and get into the holiday spirit with Buddy and friends.

Elf the Musical runs about 2 hours and 30 minutes with one 20 minute intermission.