Margaritaville musical — Page 2

Previews started at La Jolla yesterday... Has anyone attended, or does anyone have plans to go?

Call_me_jorge said: "Spongebob was barely making its way through financially wise. I also compare them, because if a show that would hopefully market to families can't make it I don't think a show marketed to parrot heads can make it.

Would you care to present figures to back up your claim re SpongeBob's Chicago engagement? I believe it was even extended a bit due to demand for tickets. That is according to Wikipedia.

Certainly I have no regrets about flying in from California on a whim - not like me at all - to see the production with a sold-out Chicago crowd who had a [Bikini Bottom beach] ball. Even received a backstage tour/photo op with Gavin Lee [Squidward] post-performance.

GavestonPS said: "Kad said: "Maybe it should open in Okeechobee.



"

LOL. Have you been to Okeechobee? You couldn't open a supermarket there at this point.

Yours,
A (former) Floridian"



I'm also a Floridian! That post was actually referencing a long-buried thread by someone that was (ridiculously) alleging that Punchdrunk was looking at opening a production in Okeechobee.

Has anyone seen this yet??? Really interested to hear at how Alison is in this.

"Oh man, I get the big "this is going die out-of-town" feelings on this one."



I agree but worse things made it to Broadway like "Lennon" and "Good Vibrations".

The musical has a full book with existing and new Jimmy Buffet songs interegrated into the story. Unfortunately, not being a follower of Jimmy Buffet I can't tell you all that's new or all that's been adapted. I'll see if I can scan the two song lists - the one printed in the program and the one inserted at the performance I saw last weekend which is different and indicates a show in progress.

The show is about two women taking a trip to a tropical resort as a last fling before one of them gets married. Lisa Howard is the woman about to get married to a man who wants her to lose weight, and her friend Alison Luff is a geologist and conservationist trying to get a big contract, an all-work and no-play kind of woman. Paul Alexander Nolan is the guitar playing entertainer at the resort. The resort is run by a fast talking Jamaican woman, bartended by a schlubby but likeable friend of Paul Nolan's and frequented by an old wartime vet whom everyone thinks is crazy. They're all used to a revolving pack of tourists - in one day and out a week later. Nolan beds pretty girls on a revolving door basis with no care that the door hits the girls who fall for him on the way out. Yeah, it's a sit com/Love Boat set up, and you know where it's going to go with the A couple, the B couple and the C couple all trying to woo or avoid getting wooed by each other and avoid falling for temptations of the island. There are some sections that could use some polishing, but on the whole it's entertaining with the songs integrated cleverly into the plot and even having overtones you don't normally associate with the songs because of how they are used in the plot. The show has big dance numbers, fantasy elements, audience participation, attractive chorus girls and boys, the catchy idosycratic music and lyrics of Jimmy Buffet and a "we're going to take you away on a tropical island and entertain you for 2 hours" feel from the minute you walk into the theatre. Think Momma Mia and Honeymoon in Vegas. It was better than I thought it would be cause I'm not a fan of Momma, Mia or jukebox musicals. Is it worth a $250 premium ticket in New York? That's a tough call. That's a tough call for a lot of shows these days. But I'll be interested in seeing how this show does.

Updated On: 5/24/17 at 03:54 AM

Saw this last night, and I have to say it's a fun night in the theater. I don't have much to add to StageDoor3's plot summary as he nailed it. This is more in the vein of Momma, Mia rather than Jersey Boys. There is some fun staging and I will add the songs are very well integrated in the show and for the most part work extremely well. I can't remember an audience this amped up for a show in a while, and for the target audience it delivers. Is it perfect? Definitely needs some fine tuning (a couple of the songs don't land or feel awkwardly placed, however, they are the exception). They are still tinkering as you expect.

The cast is uniformly excellent selling a thin plot. All four of the primary leads (Paul Alexander Nolan, Charlie Pollock, Alison Luff, and Lisa Howard) are excellent. Particular kudos to Mr. Nolan. I've seen him in a few shows now, and he really is giving a charismatic performance (this could be a star maker for him). His voice works perfectly on these songs, and the duets with Ms. Luff are wonderful. I enjoyed Ms. Luff's performance, but she is not given the best songs (in my opinion). She really is in need of an "I want" type song to cut loose on. Mr. Pollock and Ms. Howard provide the "B" couple roles and are charming and fun.

Quite honestly, I believe the market for this will be more in regional and on tour. I can see it doing okay in New York, but most of the songs are not as well known as in Momma, Mia, so I don't think it will have the legs. Not sure I'd pay upwards of $100 plus for a ticket, but then I'm not a Parrothead. They are definitely planning on taking this to Broadway after a few more stops on the road (per the very nice lady at the concession stand). So is this mind blowing theater? No. Is this a totally fun, pretty mindless evening to enjoy and forget your cares? Pretty, much.

I haven't seen Honeymoon in Vegas (the show, yes to the movie, but not the show). It reminded me most of Mamma Mia. A show that doesn't have any great stakes, but is just fun. It has elements of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (as it's about show people, but not gay themed) and All Shook Up (but better in my mind).

Is there anything innovative? No. There are some fun surprises in the staging (which I will not spoil for those that will see it), and there is a lot of breaking the fourth wall by many characters - where the audience is included in the island band's audience, etc.

Because the lead character is a lead singer of a band at a tropical resort, there is opportunity to sing some of Jimmy Buffet's more good time, party numbers, But there are many songs integrated into the plot as well. It's a show that you smile through and laugh a lot. Just summery, light feeling much as you expect from Jimmy Buffet.

Updated On: 5/27/17 at 06:24 PM

Thanks for the detailed review, sounds better than I thought it would be.

Thanks for your postings, mlsheehan. I think they're well-stated, and I agree with them. You're lucky you got to see Jimmy Buffet.

To RippedMan, I compared it to "Honeymoon in Vegas" because it's a musical comedy with a contemporary story, stereotypical characters done rather well, fun humor, smart staging and a lively score designed just to entertain (jukebox or not).

And to answer your other post - I saw both "Roman Holiday" and "Monsoon Wedding" yesterday. And you would be perceptive in your comment "Sounds far more interesting than Roman Holiday." I had more fun at "Margaritaville". They're two different kinds of shows, but for me it was a more satisfying musical theatre experience. "Roman Holiday" was enjoyable for its score, performances and large sets, but I think it needs a larger ensemble and more imaginative script and directorial touches to push it to a higher level. That's what out of town tryouts are for - for both shows

Updated On: 5/28/17 at 11:29 AM

A friend saw this last night and said that there was live reggae music outside of the venue, margaritas, and Jimmy Buffett showed up at curtain call. There were also beach balls being tossed around to the audience at curtain call. Said it was really a fun night. Wish I could fly down to see it!