ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE Reviews- Page 2

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/16/18 at 12:51am

“But if you’re not drunk or a Parrothead, as Mr. Buffett’s fans are called, you’re in trouble. Mr. Buffett’s denatured country-calypso ditties and horndog smarm seem awfully lowbrow, even in a Broadway environment debased for decades by singing cats and candlesticks.”

I hate this idea that every show on Broadway has to be of a certain quality to appease the highbrows who believe everything on Broadway has to adhere to their standards. I haven’t seen this show, and it may very well be awful, but there’s room enough on Broadway for shows like The King and I, as well as Cats, Beauty and the Beast and, yes, even Escape to Margaritaville.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/16/18 at 12:54am

Totes agreed. It's not trying for the Pulitzer. It's just fun, and that's okay. I mean, heck, it's in a hotel. 

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/16/18 at 2:13am

"I hate this idea that every show on Broadway has to be of a certain quality to appease the highbrows who believe everything on Broadway has to adhere to their standards."

 

So do I. Oh those highbrows! What a dire lot they are. And the miserable shows they inflict upon us!

Margaritaville was no great shakes to be sure. But at least it wasn't one of the deadly, tuneless, pretentious bores and screeds so beloved of the highbrows.

And remember: Margaritaville's  playing in a theatre means one less theatre for one of the aforementioned inflictions.

So drink a a margarita to Margaritaville. I'm glad it got some favorable reviews, and I hope it finds a receptive audience,

[A Director]

Posted: 3/16/18 at 3:32am

Keep in mind, when After Eight saw Mary, Mary, he or she fell to his or her knees in ecstasy.  Some have wondered if it was an orgasm!

[newintown]

Posted: 3/16/18 at 8:11am

"I hate this idea that every show on Broadway has to be of a certain quality to appease the highbrows who believe everything on Broadway has to adhere to their standards. I haven’t seen this show, and it may very well be awful, but there’s room enough on Broadway for shows like The King and I, as well as Cats, Beauty and the Beast and, yes, even Escape to Margaritaville."

If you prefer stupid shows, why not just own that and celebrate it, rather than resenting those who prefer smart shows?

And seeing the poor grosses, I would say that it seems there isn't "room" for Margaritaville.

[newintown]

Posted: 3/16/18 at 8:20am

I've been re-reading this bit form Green's notice:

"As a matter of corporate promotion, though, the musical is totally on point. Tully is the perfect ambassador for the Margaritaville brand, which is built on the idea that you can rent hedonism by the week at a namesake resort ... without working a day in your life. Like all such branding, it’s a con, of course; no one but pirates can sustain that lifestyle. And no one with any ambition wants to. Mr. Buffett...has a wife and family and 5,000 employees; he works nonstop. That makes “Escape to Margaritaville” even more cynical than the usual jukebox musical..."

That's the thing about the Parrothead phenomenon (and much American vacationing in general) - it's artificial, plastic, thoughtless and grotesque, in a Koyaanisqatsi/Ugly American way. I'd love to see an exploration on that idea, the American preference for the imitation over the real, for the easy rather than the difficult, and the selfish over the selfless. Much more than a Buffett musical sitcom, designed merely to plug his synthetic empire.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/16/18 at 9:23am

newintown said: "That's the thing about the Parrothead phenomenon (and much Americanvacationing in general) - it's artificial, plastic, thoughtless and grotesque, in aKoyaanisqatsi/Ugly Americanway. I'd love to see an exploration on that idea, the American preference for the imitation over the real, for the easy rather than the difficult, and the selfish over the selfless. Much more than a Buffett musical sitcom, designed merely to plug his synthetic empire."

It's not an American phenomenon. Just go to the beach resorts in southern Europe that are littered with UK and German (etc) visitors of the same mindset. But the interesting point to make here is that this parallels the dichotomy in theatre audiences, some of whom want to be challenged and engaged and intellectually stimulated, and some of whom simply want mindless "me time." Berlin vs the Costa del Sol, you and me et al vs After Eight et al. 

[Patty3]

Posted: 3/16/18 at 9:34am

newintown said: "I've been re-reading this bit form Green's notice:

"As a matter of corporate promotion, though, the musical is totally on point. Tully is the perfect ambassador forthe Margaritaville brand, which is built on the idea that you can rent hedonism by the week at a namesake resort ... without working a day in your life.Like all such branding, it’s a con, of course; no one but pirates can sustain that lifestyle. And no one with any ambition wants to. Mr. Buffett...has a wife and family and 5,000 employees;he works nonstop.That makes “Escape to Margaritaville” even more cynical than the usual jukebox musical..."


That's the thing about the Parrothead phenomenon (and much Americanvacationing in general) - it's artificial, plastic, thoughtless and grotesque, in aKoyaanisqatsi/Ugly Americanway. I'd love to see an exploration on that idea, the American preference for the imitation over the real, for the easy rather than the difficult, and the selfish over the selfless. Much more than a Buffett musical sitcom, designed merely to plug his synthetic empire."

It is true that Jimmy is a workaholic. When he moved to Nashville he worked as a writer for Billboard Magazine. He got an education on how artists were getting screwed by the record companies and others. He tried to not let that happen when he started to have some success. The Beatles and many other artists pretty much gave their brand away and made little money off their "image". You can't fault the man for trying to change that. Many other artists have now followed in his footsteps. 

And if you have followed his career like I have since the 70s you definitely see a lot of the younger Jimmy in Tully. The show is not Sunday In the Park with George (which I love) but there IS room for this type of show on Broadway. (I also loved Mamma Mia). All the people around me seemed to be having fun last night. Like Jimmy has said in recent  interviews "We all need to have a little fun right now".

[markypoo]

Posted: 3/16/18 at 9:35am

And what now renders new meaning to the word "pathetic" is that fifty years ago, mindless "me time" on Broadway meant a really funny - even second tier - Neil Simon play.
And now look...
How the product has slipped...
Heaven help us all...

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/16/18 at 10:53am

you're looking at 50 years ago through rose colored glasses. Simon was one of the great comedy writers in history, not vapid mindless entertainment. There was plenty of entertaining garbage 50 years ago. Plus bear in mind that Margaritaville is not doing well...

[markypoo]

Posted: 3/16/18 at 11:06am

HogansHero:

At nearly 63 years of age, looking at things through rose colored glasses - if that is indeed the case here - is a modest trifle that I've allotted myself.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/16/18 at 11:40am

@markypoo and I am sure you are well deserving of that trifle and more

[Playbill_Trash]

Posted: 3/16/18 at 11:52am

Is it safe to say that Jesse Green's NYT review is up there now with Ben Brantley's review of Good Vibrations?

 To Everything There is a Purpose - Ben Brantley's Manifesto of Disdain for Good Vibrations

I read this review about every other month and think of it as a standard for the worst possible review you could get. Every season since I think flops should rest assured they didn't get panned like this. "Sure Spiderman killed a few people, but yeesh, that Good Vibrations review..."

These people's mothers read these things...

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/16/18 at 12:20pm

Since the dawn of the 20th century, there has always been room for fluff on Broadway as well as artistic endeavors and everything in-between.  To not welcome fluff would be to negate Broadway's history.  But as with more intellectual, witty, artistic and/or the avant-garde, it can be judged and succeed or fail within the confines of its own sub-genre.  More often than not, jukebox musicals fail because they are either poorly constructed, poorly written, misconceived, dull or simply don't have a large enough core audience (or any combination of any or all of those things).  But there needs to be enough strength in at least one of those areas to compensate for the lack in other areas, which is why shows like Mamma Mia, Jersey Boys, Beautiful, Rock of Ages and even Motown (the first time around, anyway) were able to succeed despite their shortcomings.  And if your jukebox musical is meant to be fluff, you need to find a way to crank up or feature the elements around the book to create something that people will want to see.  Mamma Mia had a more diverse song selection with a broader emotional range and more universal appeal (ABBA was a global phenomenon).  Rock of Ages also had a nice range in its song selection, but also featured a witty book and was firmly (and wisely) committed to its camp stylings.  Motown staged most its catalog of hits with dazzling performances that made you forget about the tissue-paper book scenes as soon as the songs started.  Beautiful was a smartly constructed biography and Jersey Boys was near perfect in every detail.

Escape to Margaritaville doesn't really seem to have anything that can compensate enough for its monotonous score and stupid book other than bright colors on stage and a large selection of merchandise in the lobby.  It's the Good Vibrations of 2018.  It will likely go the way of Baby It's You, Lennon, Soul Doctor, Hot Feet, The Times They Are-a-Changin' and Holler If Ya Hear Me.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 3/16/18 at 6:28pm

Jesse Green's review is so funny but it is also so true.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/16/18 at 6:30pm

I still see this lasting through the summer. And running longer than the Donna Summer musical.

[rg7759]

Posted: 3/29/18 at 7:23am

They seemed to have fun last night with it, the audience behaved. Standing ovation. I much prefer Gloria's music, but I don't think this is any worse than on your feet.

[OneSingularSensation2]

Posted: 3/29/18 at 12:32pm

ACL2006 said: "I still see this lasting through the summer. And running longer than the Donna Summer musical."

I second this! 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/29/18 at 1:30pm

Buffet also seems very satisfied with the production and is likely willing to lose money even to keep it open for a while. I think it'll make it's weekly nut through the summer, then struggle in the Fall and close by New Year's. It feels like the type of show that'll tour well and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up on a cruise ship or even Las Vegas at some point.