Elf the Musical has plenty of family friendly fun but lacks substance – review
Elf the Musical – based on the hit 2003 film starring Will Ferrell – has previously played in London back in 2015. Much was made of the high ticket prices back then and, even though we now find ourselves in the midst of a cost of living crisis, not much has changed – with the top tier stalls seats coming in just shy of £200.
Does it justify such a high price tag? We’re not convinced. Don’t get us wrong – it’s an entertaining-enough family-friendly musical.
It’s cute, it’s lighthearted, it’s silly – there’s plenty here to keep the kids amused, although on the whole it lacks substance; we’re not sure there’s much here for grown ups.
It’s all very surface level, with largely one-note performances – only Buddy the Elf’s father Walter (Tom Chambers) has much of a narrative arc.
