Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre’s sold-out production of Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville is an entertaining celebration of Jimmy Buffett. Using his classic songs — with a book by Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley — it tells a surprisingly heartfelt story of following love and passions and enjoying life. Directed by Melissa Huston, with choreography by Kristin Rigsby and music direction by Jeremy Ragsdale, the show has music and humor to please hardcore “parrot heads,” casual Buffett fans, and musical lovers alike.
Ryan Kozel brings a laid-back cool to Tully, performer at the Margaritaville Hotel, his biggest challenge avoiding romantic attachments with the guests. “License to Chill” and “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere” show his power for living in the moment. He reveals his sweet side too, talking about his past in “Son of a Son of a Sailor” and teaching Rachel (Emily L. Sergo) to play the guitar in “Three Chords.” Heartbroken, “Margaritaville” softly, filled with regret and feeling.
Emily L. Sergo gives Rachel, a new guest, burning ambition. She immediately compares the hotel with its website, pointing out its shortcomings. She sings in “It’s My Job” of her passion for science and knowledge and her desire to change the world for the better. She learns from Tully how to relax and “breath in, breath out, and move on.”
D.J. Wojciehowski plays Brick, Tully’s friend, with an easy charm. He bonds with Tammy (Meghan McCarthy) in “We Are the People Our Parents Warned Us About” over parental expectations. Although deeply attracted to her, he keeps her from cheating on her fiancé. In “Grapefruit – Juicy Fruit,” he sings a mantra to keep calm during a crisis, while also dealing with a comical drug flashback.
Meghan McCarthy plays Tammy, Rachel’s best friend, with a lightness that hides deep feelings. On the island for her bachelorette party, she flirts and makes puns, while growing attracted to and conflicted with Brick. In “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” she sings passionately of giving in to her cravings, finally standing up to her oafish, controlling fiancé Chadd (Nicolas Towers).
Michelle Bruno plays Marley, the manager, with great comic bite, addressing Rachel’s criticisms with sarcasm and warding off J.D.’s (Jerry Vess) advances. In “Coconut Telegraph,” she realizes with surprise that she is the island gossip.
Jerry Vess gives a comic crustiness to J.D. the pilot, whose plane is hidden after he crashed it. Regaling guests with seemingly improbable stories and hiding a buried treasure chest, he sings to “Why Don’t We Get Drunk” having the cast include a word Marley forbids him from using. In “He Went to Paris,” he shows his tender side, revealing his past and the tragedy that brought him to the island.
Christian Gonzalez brings a silliness to Jamal, working at the hotel. In “Volcano,” he leads the cast in comic panic during a crisis. Nicolas Towers plays Chadd, Tammy’s fiancé, as a selfish, controlling jerk. In “Fins,” he sings with great glee of all the men who may tempt her on her bachelorette trip, while restricting her diet so she fits into a too-small wedding dress.
The Ensemble (Ethan Albo, Obandi Ayomobi, Ashley Barry, James Claxton, Adam Conklin, Saralyn Gottschall, Matt Gray, Shannon Gray, Madelyn Keir, Drew Looney, Kerry Lynch, Samantha Oliver, Tyler Rose, Nicolas Towers, and Cameron Walker) serve as a great chorus and supporting characters, playing guests, hotel staff, music managers, and hallucinations.
Set Designer Todd Croteau recreates a charmingly shabby island resort, with a bar and barstools audience right, including a parrot on the counter. A dock is in the middle with a hammock in the middle, while the band sits in a rusty shack audience left. A surprise pops up out from the backdrop. Props Designer Wren Lake brings out items as needed, including sofas and a cardboard cutout of a plane.
Costume Designer Marge McGugan keeps each performer immediately identifiable, starting with shorts and Hawaiian shirts for the men and tank tops and shorts for the women. Off the island, they wear jeans, T-shirts, and sports jerseys. The Ensemble goes through many quick costume changes, including chorus girl outfits and frog costumes.
Lighting Designer Rick Swink highlights the changing emotions of the show with different colored lights. Strobe lights flash during a hallucinatory scene. Sound Designer Lucinda Chase throws out various island sounds, including crashing waves and conch blowing.
Music Director Jeremy Ragsdale ensures the music and the singing are evenly balanced, while Conductor Jack Benedict leads musicians David Mueller, Nicholas Carico, Reid Bowman, William Georg, Jeremy Ulrich, Arielle Tobias, LeVar Betts, Francine Krasowska, Joe Calianno, Dave Dimmock, Joseph Reid, and Hart Guonjian-Pettit in rousing renditions of Buffett’s music. Choreographer Kristin Rigsby creates lovely dances and movements, including tap dances and a kick line. Director Melissa Huston gets the performers hitting both the comic and emotional moments, while also singing every song with high energy and love. “A Pirate Looks at Forty” and “One Particular Harbor” are especially touching. The cast and crew should be commended for creating such strong work in this heat and humidity. While the show is sold out, tickets may be available, so check regularly and see it if you can.
Running Time: Approximately two hours 30 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.
Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville plays through July 27, 2024, at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre – 143 Compromise Street, Annapolis, MD. For ticket availability, call the box office at 410-268-9212 or check online.
Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville
Book by Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley
Music and Lyrics by Jimmy Buffett
Directed by Melissa Huston
Music Director: Jeremy Ragsdale
Choreographer: Kristin Rigsby