Lucky De Elf is probably the only one in town who's saying it: “This weather, it's too balmy. I'm thinking of wearing a Speedo to work.”

        That's a chilling thought, considering work for him is roaming the zoo's Festival of Lights six nights a week, even in temperatures flirting with single digits. Which it has done a lot lately.

Denny B. Thomas (right) signs a rap tune with fellow elfs Zip (Mitchell D. Stallions, center) and Bo (Jeff Shearer). (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        Lucky is actually Denny B. Thomas, a 45-year-old English and drama teacher at Sycamore Junior High. Married, he lives in Mason with his wife and four children, three of whom are 17 — “triplets. Now that's an adventure.”

        But six nights a week, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., you'll find him gussied up in thermal undies, white turtleneck, candy cane vest, red plaid pants (over sweat pants), green hat, red earmuffs and two pairs of gloves, working the crowd at the Festival's main entrance.

        Uh, kinda big for an elf, don't you think?

        “Not at all. It's the media's fault, and it's no wonder kids don't believe in us. You people are always showing Elfus Minutias, the little guys. Then they see me, Elfus Giganticus, and they say, "We don't believe.'”

        Oh.

        The media apologizes.

        The media is also wondering, how does one get to be an elf?

        “The theater background helps. I'm a graduate of the old Edgecliff College with a degree in theater arts. Then I spent 14 years working the Showboat Majestic and doing dinner theater.

        “One thing you learn in all that is how to develop a persona. Lucky started out as just the opposite: Band-aid on the cheek, black eye, the picture of bad luck. But he gradually turned into what you see now — sort of a rough, mischievous, lippy kinda guy who likes to steal other elves' four-wheelers.”

        Uh, and the the Brooklyn accent?

        “Just south of the North Pole. That's how people talk, are you wid me?

        “The truth is, it just fits. The problem with the persona now, after doing it for five years, is that it becomes almost an alter ego and sometimes just emerges. Sometimes I do it at school, and I have a classroom full of kids thinking this time I really did crack.

        “Most of the time, though, Lucky emerges as I dress for the part. That's why it takes me 20 minutes, to get into the clothes and Lucky's persona.

        “The other good thing about the clothes is they keep you warm on most nights. Not like the year I had to run around in a diaper.”

        Come again?

        “I've been doing some character or another here for 12 years. One year I was Father Time, dragging around this big old diaper. It wasn't pretty.”

        His Lucky act is, well, if not pretty, at least lively. Here he is giving directions to the new elephant compound. Now he's on his knees singing “Jingle Bells” — “it's the shortened version.” Now he and brother elves Zip and Bo are the Rappin' Elves, belting out a snappy Rudy the Red Rao. Then he's mangling “Noel” — “no water cause no well.”

        Then he's ducking into one of the gift shops. “I go in to visit, not warm up. Lucky's not cold. This is balmy.”

        Well fine. And while you warm your (non-pointy) toes, how about a few questions?

        An elf can never forget ...

        Oh, an elf can never forget anything. Most of the time. If we get forgetful, we forget to stop working.

        The most important thing an elf can do ...

        Whoa, that's the elfin creed — To help thy brother elf. Beyond that, make sure we bring good cheer to everyone, no matter.

        When I'm too old to be an elf, I'll be ...

        Probably an elf trainer. Training them so toys don't fall apart or the paint doesn't peel too soon. I just want to be sure they keep me off reindeer duty. When I was on that they used to call me Stinky. Enough said.

        Little kids are always telling the elves ...

        Jokes. Like what animal is shaped like a tooth? A molar bear. And what's the name of the 10th reindeer? Olive. As in "Olive the other reindeer.'

        Elves are always telling little kids ...

        Stay on the good side of the list. If you get on the bubble, it's easy to fall off.

        The best thing about running around in pointy shoes ...

        But they're not pointy. Elfus Giganticus wear work boots because we're the workers. I guess the best part of wearing elfin issue is that we're always recognized. You see these pants and you just know.

        If Santa fired me, I would go to work for ...

I might consider the Easter Bunny because I could continue my painting, though I don't know that I could stand the climate. But you know, Santa never fires an elf. He just puts them on reindeer duty.

        One thing no one knows about elves ...

        They don't understand the different phylum. There's Elfus Humongous or Giganticus, like me. Then there's Elfus Minutias, about the size of the TV elves. And Elfus Minisculus, like Snap, Crackle and Pop. And Elfus Microscopicus, who you can't even see. They're the ones who wear pointy shoes.

        When recruiting new elves, the first thing I tell them ...

        Never wake a sleeping child.

        My favorite part of Festival of Lights ...

        Ah, without a doubt it's talking to all the people — the good, the bad and the ugly. At least once a night, one comes by with a gleam in the eye and a heart so warm you can actually see it.

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