It is difficult for me to define why I enjoyed "Elf: The Musical" so much on Friday evening at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre. The music was good but not out of the ordinary for a Broadway musical, and the story was a simplified version of the Will Ferrell movie "Elf."  But it resonated with those of us who enjoyed the film, and the music enhanced the libretto with some fun interludes.

For those few unfamiliar with this story, Buddy lives at the North Pole, raised by Santa and his elves. Despite towering over the elves, he has no clue that he was born a human. When Santa reveals his origins, he travels to New York in search of his birth father, who turns out to be a grumpy businessman with no interest in Santa or a new son.

The producers included some creative elements. The opening scene featured elves dancing and singing. Most shows opt for two ways to portray pint-sized characters: Hire child actors or hire little adults. This show chose to have full-size adults walk on their knees, wearing black cloaks and false legs that hid the lower half of their bodies. The result was superb, as the legs bounced and swung in time to their dancing and walking. It was a clever form of puppetry, and it worked!

The show used minimal physical sets against animated video backgrounds. This technique created a sensation of movement as the characters ran through Manhattan or floated on an iceberg from the North Pole. I have not seen this done before, and it impressed me.

But the characters were the show's biggest strength. Jack Ducat as the simple-minded, good-hearted Buddy played his character with the over-the-top enthusiasm one would expect. Jeff Brooks as Buddy's father was great, as Buddy's stoic, business-obsessed father was perfect in the role originated by James Caan. Even Andrew Hendrick as Santa was great in his brief performance, choosing a more cheerful demeanor than the grumpy Ed Asner from the film. None matched the level of their on-screen counterparts, but they were not far behind.

The only downside of the evening was the couple behind me who thought it was acceptable to have a loud conversation during the second act. I expected some noise from an audience that included many children, but I was surprised to see adults when I turned around and asked them to shush.

But this did not spoil a delightful evening that cannot help but put one into the Christmas spirit.

And the main reason I enjoyed this musical was that it was so much fun!