A Celebration of Jimmy Buffett at MMT

Those of us who saw a distinct shadow lurking just offstage last night at Mill Mountain Theatre would swear it was the ghost of Jimmy Buffett, singing, dancing, laughing and thoroughly enjoying this theatrical homage to a man who knew how to enjoy life.

On stage was "Escape to Margaritaville," a thoroughly entertaining look at life through Buffett's eyes, though he died six months ago. The full house, I would estimate, had an average age in the 60s (Buffet and I were born two months apart in 1946), but the level of enthusiasm was more reminiscent of teenagers enjoying their favorite music, Parrot Heads or not. 

As you might expect "Margaritaville" is a show about allowing life to be more than stress and work. It's about having fun and feeling thoroughly good about it. At play here are an uptight scientist (played and sung well by Felicia Martis, a New York actress) and a Buffett-like signer who hasn't "made it," nor who cares. "Brick," the Buffett character, is played by Elliot Smith. They are supported by a solid ensemble, headed by Ariana Valdes and Michael Walker.

Not surprisingly, the audience was as much a headliner as anybody on stage. The members sang out loud to "Let's Get Drunk (and Screw)," "Margaritaville,"  and a dozen other Buffett standards. They wore Hawaiian flower-dy shirts and huge smiles throughout the evening. 

Hector Flores, who has made a solid impression during the past year or so at MMT, was director and choreographer in a production where the dancing was as important as the signing. It would be especially difficult to come away from this production without smiling. And I didn't see anybody who even tried.

The play continues through March 31. You may order tickets ($20-$42) at 540-342-5740.