Holiday spirit hits the stage

SOAP LAKE — The curtain rises Nov. 25 on a tale of Christmas spirit, and the efforts of a long-lost — and slightly magical — son to rebuild it for his family. The Masquers Theatre production of “Elf: The Musical” runs weekends through Dec. 16.

“Elf” is based on the 2003 movie, which Masquers co-director Clifford Bresee called a “modern Christmas classic.” The musical premiered on Broadway in 2011.

“In the form of the musical the story really shines, as the music is very catchy and fun,” Bresee wrote in response to questions from the Columbia Basin Herald. “From my first listen I was smiling.”

“Elf” tells the story of Buddy (Clark Dalton in the Maquers production), who may be the happiest elf in Christmastown. But there’s something Santa (Jeremy Hansen) and the other elves know that Buddy doesn’t - he’s not an elf. 

Hey, it was a busy night and Santa didn’t see the little baby who crawled into his sack while he was leaving presents at a New York orphanage. But Buddy is grown now, and his life is taking him elsewhere. 

Santa tells Buddy the truth, that his mom died and his dad never knew he existed. With Santa’s permission, Buddy goes in search of his dad. 

But Santa warned Buddy his dad was on the Naughty List, and boy, is he ever. Walter Neff (Jason Noble) has really lost his Christmas spirit, neglectful to his family and rude to his employees — and that’s just for starters. Of course he’s got no time for Buddy, but Buddy is determined to show his dad there’s a better way to live.

Bresee told the cast before rehearsal Monday that “Elf” is a show with a lot going on — a lot of props, a lot of music and a lot of traffic on and off stage.

“This show is hard,” Bresee told the cast.

Musicals in general are a challenge, even to experienced directors like Bresee and his wife Stacy, he said. 

“Casts for musicals tend to be larger, shows tend to be longer, more scene changes, costumes, and of course learning music and choreography,” he wrote. “A musical is in every way ‘more.’ Elf is no exception.”

The Masquers theater adds an extra layer of challenge.

“We, by design, are a smaller, more intimate theater setting which requires you to be very creative in pulling off the ‘big stage’ production aspects of a full-stage Broadway musical,” he wrote. “This is a big show brought to a small stage.”

Tickets for “Elf” are available on the Masquers website, www.masquers.com.

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.

Masquers Theatre 

322 Main Avenue E.
Soap Lake, WA 98851
509-246-2611
publicity@masquers.com
www.masquers.com

Showtimes:

Fri:: 7 p.m.
Sat. & Sun. 2 p.m.
Tickets: $20

    Mrs. Santa (Randy Martin, center) checks on progress in the workshop.
  

    Santa (Jeremy Hansen, left) breaks it to Buddy (Clark Dalton, right) that his long-lost dad is on the Naughty List. The Masquers Theatre production of “Elf: The Musical” opens Nov. 25.
  

    Whoops - the elves have let it slip that Buddy isn’t a real elf during a cocoa break.
  

    Walter Neff (Jason Noble, right) isn’t interested in fixing a major mistake in his firm’s new book.
  

    The elves are having a grand time making toys in the Masquers Theater production of “Elf: The Musical.”