'Elf' is a spritely show

The hardest piece is suspending your disbelief in watching TJ Fantini’s superb performance as Buddy the Elf, is not that a 30 year old believes he is an elf or that elves live and make toys in Christmas Town or that Santa (the real one) narrates a story bringing this tale to life. No. The most amazing reality is that Buddy can be utterly and completely happy all the time, finding good in everyone, and committed to singing and hugging to improve every situation.

Go see for yourself, if you can get tickets. “Elf the Musical” plays through Dec. 16 at Anacortes Community Theatre.

The large cast their themselves into being elves, publishing house and Macy’s workers and New Yorkers on the street. They hardly blink an eye at the elf in a green outfit.

Believe that baby Buddy crawled into Santa’s bag 30 years ago and was brought to the North Pole. He is lousy at elf work and is finally told the truth. Shockingly, he is from New York. Worse his dad (Rob Hanson) is on the naughty list. More, the publisher boss Greenway (Dale Aspelund) is even more is a workaholic, and grouchier. Staff assistant Deb (Seren Rain Sehota) is nice and bossed around.

At Macy’s, the store manager (John Sternlicht) takes Buddy for a corporate spy and has staff follow his orders, which leads to singing and dancing.

The lonely Macy tree decorator, Jovie (Torie Fantani, real life wife) finds, as she must, true love with Buddy.

Dad will not believe Buddy his his son, but wife Emily (Sydney Brady) and step brother Michael (Gabriel Hanson) become believers and allies. By the time Santa reached the City on Christmas Eve, his sleighx held aloft by children’s belief in him, PETA forcing releasing the reindeer c comes down in Central Park, out of juice.

Through all this, and more, there are 16 songs and almost as many dances. Buffy sings in most of them. The is plenty of ensemble participation.

Overseen by producer Regina Zaheer, the production is well supported by Director Julie Nester, Musical Director Jennifer Campbell, Choreographer Glynna Goff and Costume Designer Miriam Smith. The rainbow pastel, 1970ish elf costumes are great.

The 2003 film “Elf” premiered as “Elf the Musical” on Broadway in 2010.