Jerome Kern. Richard Rogers. Oscar Hammerstein II. Stephen Sondheim. Jimmy Buffett.
Something seems off there.
Show Boat, Oklahoma!, Gypsy, Escape to Margaritaville.
Something really seems off there.
“Ol’ Man River,” “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”
OK, I think you see where this is going.
In the pantheon of great American musical theater, one would be hard pressed to include Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville.
But if you’re looking to hang out in a festive atmosphere, enjoy a frozen concoction or two and sing along to some catchy tunes, then by all means head for Santa Rosa’s 6th Street Playhouse. Their production of the Jimmy Buffett musical runs through April 19.
As in most jukebox musicals, the paper-thin plot serves only to somewhat-connect a playlist of popular songs. In this case, it’s a story of four disparate people coupling off by the closing number.
Besties Rachel (Andrea “Andee” Thorpe) and Tammy (Reilly Milton) are off on an island vacation before Tammy’s upcoming nuptials to her less-than-sensitive fiancée, Chadd (Anderson Templeton). They end up at a substandard Caribbean resort, where they meet up with part-time singer/full time lothario Tully (Nelson Brown) and amiable resort bartender Brick (Sergio Diaz).
Sparks fly between Tammy and Brick, but the soon-to-be-betrothed Tammy resists. Conveniently, sparks also fly between Rachel and Tully, but the dedicated-to-her-work-above-all-else Rachel resists.
The island’s volcano (and what theatrical island doesn’t have a volcano?) soon erupts, forcing everyone to evacuate. Everyone, that is, but Tully, Brick, resort owner Marley (Jeffrie Givens) and one-eyed, perpetually drunk beach bum seaplane pilot J.D. (co-director Larry Williams). He will, of course, fly everyone to the mainland, where true love will (eventually) win out.
You don’t come to a jukebox musical for the book (by Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley); you come for the songs, like “License to Chill,” “Why Don’t We Get Drunk,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise” and the title tune.
They’re all performed on a colorful stage (scenic design by Peter Crompton and Aissa Simbulan) by a festively-draped (by Mae Heagerty-Matos) though suntan-challenged cast, with good support from a four-piece band, under the direction of Nate Riebli.
The leads are charming, with particularly strong vocal work from Thorpe and Reilly.
Co-directors Williams and Emily Cornelius recognize they’re really throwing a party for Parrotheads and adults literally looking for an … escape.
Might as well be to Margaritaville.
‘Escape to Margaritaville’ runs through April 19 in the GK Hardt Theatre at 6th Street Playhouse, 52 W. 6th Street, Santa Rosa. Thurs-Sat, 7:30pm; Sat & Sun, 2pm. $29-$56. 707.523.4185. 6thstreeetplayhouse.com.
