Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville

5/10

Summer kicks off early with Escape to Margaritaville at the Gainesville Community Playhouse. Palm trees and sand fill the stage while the ghost of Jimmy Buffett fills every other nook and cranny of the theater. Consider this a warning for anyone not already a fan of Mr. Buffett’s music or lackadaisical island life vibes: this show is a “jukebox musical” set to the songs of Jimmy Buffett, including hits like “Fins,” “It’s Five o’ Clock Somewhere,” and, of course, “Margaritaville.” While the story itself is never going to “wow” an audience, the pieces of Margaritaville come together for an at times fun experience, especially for those who are already fans of the music.

The set is stunning, conveying a lush tropical island with beautiful foliage and an ominous volcano in the distance. Ted Lewis (Set Designer) and Dori Lloyd (Scenic Artist) create an incredible backdrop, giving depth to the story’s setting and providing something fun and lively to engage the audience’s imagination. The greenery, sand, and volcano perfectly capture the mental image conjured by Jimmy Buffett’s most popular songs. If Wile E. Coyote was as skilled with a paintbrush as Dori Lloyd, Road Runner would have smashed into the fake tunnel every Saturday morning.

To make up for the flimsy story, this production of Margaritaville is ambitious on other fronts. The choreography challenges the actors and impresses the audience with lifts, dips, and flips covering every corner of the stage, while a humorous tap routine adds a dash of absurdity. As refreshing as it is to see exciting and bold choreography in community theater, it is apparent that some actors are not yet as comfortable with the movements as others.

Vocally, Rachel Bake Kallenbach, playing “Rachel,” and Molly Diblin, playing “Tammy,” are outstanding. Each actor rises to the challenge of bringing emotion to the songs of Jimmy Buffett while also building believable connections with the other characters on stage. While such a lighthearted show does not necessarily need additional moments of levity, Joshua Michael, playing “Brick,” offers excellent comedic timing to ensure that the jokes in Margaritaville land with maximum effect. Brick, as the lovable idiot, gives the audience someone to cheer for from lights up until the final bows.

At roughly 2.5 hours long, the audience is given plenty of time to reflect on what is happening on stage. Unfortunately, there is little depth to the story to fill the gaps when the novelty of Jimmy Buffett wears thin. As a result, any imperfections become the focal point or the attention drifts from the leads to the ensemble during lulls. Luckily, the ensemble fully commits to their background actions, ranging from a sweet older couple on a beach vacation to the insanity of a sunbather eating their sunscreen. Following those background activities becomes a fun game of “I Spy.”

Overall, it is hard to define the target audience. The show relies so heavily on the music of Jimmy Buffett that it may fail to entice those who are not already fans and the story is not compelling enough to make the experience more worthwhile than listening to a greatest hits playlist from the comfort of home.

Escape to Margaritaville is currently playing at the Gainesville Community Playhouse until April 12th. Tickets can be purchased at GCPlayhouse.org.