Page 29 - ATD12DEC2015
P. 29
PEOPLE & ARTS A29
Saturday 12 December 2015
Musical ‘Elf’ returns to New York led by Eric Petersen
MARK KENNEDY as Santa and Veronica J. This image released by Madison Square Garden Company reer in both TV and stage,
AP Drama Writer Kuehn as Buddy’s love in- shows a performance of “Elf The Musical,” playing at The earning credits on the TV-
NEW YORK (AP) — The terest. Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York until Dec. 27. Land sitcom “Kirstie” and
Christmas musical based “I really love playing the “The Brittany Murphy Sto-
on Will Ferrell’s movie “Elf” character,” said Petersen. (Amy Boyle/Madison Square Garden Company via AP) ry.” He was on Broadway in
has returned to New York “I feel like I get to do so “Peter & The Starcatcher”
for the holidays, led by much fun stuff — physical ducers,” ‘’Hairspray”) and Buddy’s PG-rated swear and “Shrek: The Musical.”
a stage and TV veteran comedy, which is my bag, It was while starring as Shrek
whose oldest child’s first and I get to do a little bit of Bob Martin (“The Drowsy “cotton-headed ninny- in the first national tour that
Broadway show was — a love story. It’s the whole Sophia arrived and joined
that’s right — “Elf.” package.” Chaperone”), preserves muggins” and when he him and his wife, Lisa, on
Eric Petersen’s 5-year-old The musical opens in the many of the familiar punch confronts a department the road. Petersen and his
daughter, Sophia, caught North Pole, where Buddy lines from Ferrell’s hilarious store Santa by hissing, daughter soon shared a
the show a few winters learns he’s not an elf but special routine: She would
ago and adored it. Years a human. It then charts his 2003 film. Yet with its big, “You smell like beef and poke daddy on the nose
later, she sat mesmerized journey in search of his fa- and he would reciprocate.
for several hours watching ther in Manhattan, perking catchy numbers, it doesn’t cheese.” A new opening Sophia grew comfortable
her dad at a rehearsal of up everyone he meets. having Shrek around but
the show. Petersen looks nothing like have the feel of a show number — “Happy All the Petersen didn’t know for
“My daughter loves the- Ferrell but director Sam that was plucked from the Time” — has jumped from a time if his little girl really
ater so much and so she’s Scalamoni said that was screen and retrofitted for the last Broadway version knew daddy was inside
been going to shows well never a goal. “It has to all that makeup. One day
before most kids go,” Pe- be somebody who under- the stage. to the tour. while he was in full Shrek
tersen said. “I’m in trouble. stands the comedy and get-up, she poked him on
She’s totally a show kid. It’s the heart of the piece,” he Now-classic lines from the Petersen, who lives in Los the nose. “I was like, ‘OK,
very apparent.” said. “Funny is great, but movie are intact, such as Angeles, has carved a ca- you know that it’s daddy
Petersen plays Buddy in the if there’s not heart, then under all of this stuff.’”
touring musical that plays I don’t care. Eric is such a This time on the road,
The Theater at Madison balance of both.” there’s less makeup to play
Square Garden until Dec. The musical’s story, adapt- Buddy, and Sophia has a
27. He’s joined by a cast ed by Tony Award winners baby brother, 10-month-
that includes J.B. Adams Thomas Meehan (“The Pro- old Miles.q
