Elfis teaches two important lessons

by Jamie Brown

 On Dec. 15 and Dec. 16, the fourth and fifth grades of Park Intermediate School held their Christmas programs in the Weiser High School auditorium. This year the programs were directed by Victoria Arriero and had more of a play feel compared to recent years. 

 Both programs had an “Elfis” theme to them, that while they could be enjoyed separately they seemed to go together as though they were one program in two parts. 

 The fourth graders opened their program by continuing a tradition that Choir Director Mike Turner started some years ago of reciting “T’was the Night Before Christmas.” Then they started the real show titled “The Elves’ Impersonator” and sang the song, “Our Favorite Time of Year.”

 A group of elves are gathered and gossiping about a new elf who wears weird clothes, sings all the time and is just not like the other elves. They come to the conclusion that he must be an elf impersonator. 

 Then enters Elfis, played by Brody Halvorson, dancing across the stage with his fancy white jumpsuit, styled hair, and blue guitar. The elves continue to ridicule him as the music begins and everyone sings “Elf Impersonator.”

 Feeling down and unwanted Elfis sings a blues style song “He’s so Blue” and runs away into the snowy night. 

 Santa, played by Walter Bruce, and Mrs. Claus, Quin Li, show up looking for Elfis and the elves tell him that Elfis ran away because of their suspicions about Elfis being an impersonator. 

 Santa sends his reindeer out to find Elfis before he freezes. While the reindeer search Mrs. Claus teaches the elves a lesson about accepting all people no matter their differences with the song “Arm in Arm.”

 When the reindeer return with Elfis the elves, ashamed of their behavior, apologize and ask him to lead them in a song. He wholeheartedly agrees and they close the program with “Santa Claus Rock.”

 The next day the fifth graders did their program titled “Elfis and the Sleigh Riders.”  

 Elfis is now a beloved member of Santa’s North Pole crew, and the program starts with all the elves and reindeer chanting his name. When Elfis, played by Rebecca Dodson, comes on stage he leads them in the song “Uh-huh-huh.” 

 Santa, Spencer Messick, has a surprise for Elfis this year, a band including a bass player, a guitarist, a piano player, a drummer, as well as backup singers. The newly formed band debates over what their name should be and they decide on “Elfis and the Sleigh Riders.” 

 The band leads everyone in the song “Everybody’s Goin’ on a Sleigh Ride.” 

 Tensions soon rise in Elfis’ new band when each of the backup singers think they should get a featured solo. The band argues over who should get the solo with each member of the band supporting a different singer and refusing to play unless their chosen singer gets the solo. With the band split up and no one happy, everyone sings “So Sad at Santa’s Pad.”

 Despite the best efforts of the elves, the reindeer and even Santa and Mrs. Claus, the band members are too angry to even talk to each other. They call on Elfis to help them remember the importance of friendship and communication with the song “Are You Lonely and Blue.”

 The band members realize how foolish they have been and make up. With the band back together, Elfis and the Sleigh Riders are back to rockin’ the North Pole once again. The program ends with everyone rockin’ to “North Pole Rockin Roll.”