‘Margaritaville’ –Book by Greg Garcia & Mike O’Malley. Music & Lyrics by Jimmy Buffett. Directed & Choreographed by Charlie Sutton. Musical Direction by Robert L. Rucinski. Scenic Design by Nate Bertone. Costume Design by Kelly Baker. Lighting Design by Corey Whittemore. Sound Design by Alex Berg and Don Hanna. Wig & Hair Design by Rachel Padula-Shufelt . At North Shore Music Theater, Beverly, through August 27.
By Linda Chin
North Shore Music Theater closes its summer 2023 trifecta (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Sound of Music) with Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville. Like a perfect margarita – a six-part combination of tequila, triple sec, and fresh-squeezed lime juice in a 3:2:1 ratio, sweetened with a simple syrup and served in a glass rimmed with salt, NSMT’s production is perfect for a hot summer evening. Though the show’s book is on the weak side, the company of 18 talented triple threats – ensemble members and six principals in a 2:1 ratio – deliver a strong performance.
Best friends Rachel (Dakota Mackey-McGee) and Tammy (Shelly Lynn Walsh) have planned a trip to a tropical locale the week before Tammy’s wedding for a break from the winter cold, some well-deserved R&R, and for Rachel – a scientist – to gather soil samples for her research. Even though neither is looking for love (Rachel is married to her work, and Tammy is loyal to her fiancé even though he’s put her on a strict diet), they meet and become charmed by hotel staff members, a bartender/singer/guitar player Tully (Wes Williams) and his best friend Brick (Sean Steele). The run-down resort is owned by Marley (Altamiece Carolyn Cooper) and frequented by a regular named J.D. (John Hart), an old salt who’s been sweet on her for decades.
J.D. and Marley lead the familiar crowd-pleaser “Why Don’t We Get Drunk and ____,” encouraging the audience to sing along. Other classic tunes played by the nine-musician orchestra (Robert Rucinski conducts) include “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” “Margaritaville,” “Fins,” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise.” For the latter, Tammy ascends from center stage in Act II and rises up on a magnificent larger-than-life-size prop designed by Nate Bertone. Not everything in this show makes sense, but if you’d enjoy watching some clever choreography (e.g. insurance salespeople tap dancing on their briefcases) and mindless fun, give yourself permission to chill, change your attitude, and give Escape to Margaritaville a shot. For tickets and information, go to: https://www.nsmt.org/
