Big Papa's Escape to Margaritaville Review

If you are looking for an unbiased review of Escape to Margaritaville (The Broadway Musical), look elsewhere. I am unabashedly, a Parrothead; A fan of the music and lyrics of Jimmy Buffett and the escapist lifestyle he portrays. Please know that although this review is completely biased, I hope you will see how knocked out I was about this terrific show. Also know I come from a place where Margaritaville is very real, even if it is only in my mind.

Escape to Margaritaville is the story of a songwriter Tully Mars and his best friend stuck in paradise. No spoilers there. The show brings to life the story of the songline of Jimmy Buffett. Settings include Cincinnati, a couple bars, a volcano and an airplane. No surprise. And yes, you can have a margarita in your theatre seat. The Tiki Bar ran out of Triple Sec opening night.

The Central NY Parrotheads takes Broadway!

As Parrotheads, you will immediately catch the clever intros to all the Songs You Know by Heart. Likable characters and funny dance numbers make this show a delight. If you like to sing along at concerts, you will have the chance to do the same here. Please be wary of changes to many of the lyrics to fit the storyline however. Fans and future fans alike will be entertained by the comedy and dance numbers. At the heart, this show is about finding and defining your own paradise and making your mark, before making your escape.

The troupe was energetic and fun. The audience seemed to be mostly filled with curious theatre goers. First timers or “Virgins” as they are referred to at concerts, will not catch all the humor, but the show pleases on many levels. My favorite scenes were with the Bartender “Brick” (Eric Petersen). A secondary character but lovable on many levels. His big dance number was hilarious.

My complaints are few. I had an uncomfortable balcony seat leaving me relieved to stand up at intermission. Also, the lame response of the mostly sober crowd. It was certainly worth a standing ovation but only the lower level leapt to their feet. Perhaps regular theatre goers were less than impressed.

Overall, the dancing and humor were fantastic. The male lead Tully (Paul Alexander Nolan), a talented and strong choice for the part, is a dead ringer for Owen Wilson and even sounds just like him at times. His acoustic guitar parts appeared to be real and not faked. The female lead Rachael (Alison Luff) has an amazing voice and took the role higher in every scene, especially her emotional interpretation of “It’s My Job.” Brick the bartender’s love interest, Tammy (Lisa Howard) has a fabulous voice and a lust for a cheeseburger or maybe something else... Rema Webb as Marley, Don Sparks as JD and Andre Ward as Jamal brought something special to every scene. The choreography and music was fun and classically familiar. Don’t miss this gem. I had a great time and would definitely see it again.

Don’t wait, book your escape today. Escape to Margaritaville (The Musical), Marquis Theatre – Broadway NYC.