"Escape to Margaritaville" This Summer at Toby's Dinner Theatre

By Frankie Kujawa
     Running through Sunday, August 20th at Toby's Dinner Theatre in Columbia is Jimmy Buffett's Escape to Margaritaville. Audiences will meet a handsome bartender and singer named Tully (played by Howard County-native Patrick Gover) who works in the Caribbean at “Margaritaville” and falls for a career-minded tourist. The hilarious musical-comedy features some of Jimmy Buffett's most-loved classics, including: “Cheeseburger In Paradise”, “Margaritaville,” “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere,” and many more. 
     Gover, who has performed in previous Toby's productions "Something Rotten," "Ghost," and "Rocky: The Musical" recently chatted about his current performance. 

Frankie Kujawa: In your own words, could you describe what audiences can expect from this performance of MARGARITAVILLE?
Patrick Gover: A little bit of comedy, a little bit of romance. Good music. Good drinks. It’s just a party atmosphere.

Frankie Kujawa: Could you describe a little about your role in this production?
Patrick Gover: I play Tully whose the charismatic guitar player/singer of the island. He’s a schmoozer who gets all the girls until he meets a different girl who sweeps him off his feet.

Frankie Kujawa: As a performer, what went into preparing for a role such as this?  
Patrick Gover: I had to get in the mindset of living on a beach where nothing could go wrong. And it’s been nice getting into a routine of playing the guitar again.

Frankie Kujawa: How does this role differ from others you've had at Toby's?
Patrick Gover: This role is a bit more relaxed than the other ones.  And, I get to play with an instrument.

​Frankie Kujawa: Toby's always brings so many fantastic productions each season. Could you describe what it's like performing at a place such as Toby's?
Patrick Gover: Toby’s is a very heart-warming place and the [theatre-in-the] round forces you to be intimate. The fourth wall is all around so there is no hiding!

​For more information on Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville, please visit: tobysdinnertheatre.com/shows/jimmy-buffetts-escape-to-margaritaville-2023/#