New Jersey Stage November 2014 | Page 21

ferences. There’s no Father Elf in the play and the narration is now done by Santa Claus. Likewise, you won’t hear the same music that was in the film, but you will hear some original tunes instead. Elf contains the same magical elements that made the film so beloved. It’s the right blend of being magical without being too corny. Something that’s not easy to do. As with the best Christmas stories, Elf makes it easy to believe in a tale that’s truly fantastical which borders on the ridiculous. On stage, it is an extravaganza of color from the costumes to the various sets (Rockerfeller Center, Central Park, inside the store) and offers a virtual playground for the actors to explore and have fun. This will be Fahrner’s first time in a production at Paper Mill. Originally from Michigan, Fahrner moved to New York City when she was 20. There weren’t many musical theatres in her area while growing up and she didn’t even know that places like Paper Mill existed. “I remember seeing Beauty and the Beast on a national tour when it came through Detroit,” she recalled. “That was the first play I saw on stage in high school and it blew me away. I just didn’t understand that you could do something that big and live every night. I knew that I wanted to do it, but I didn’t know what was going to Advertise here for $25 - $100 call 732-280-7625 pg 21