If you are even a casual fan of SpongeBob
Squarepants then you will thoroughly enjoy the zany Broadway musical based on
the cartoon character. The wacky world
of Bikini Bottom and its denizens of the deep are lovingly reimagined for the
stage, producing a wildly entertaining, splendiferous production.
Kudos, first and foremost, must go to director
Tina Landau and her creative team—emphasis on the word creative—for their splashy,
colorful and dazzling designs. They literally
transform the interior and stage of the Palace Theatre into a vibrant and
beauteous spectacle. David Zinn’s Scenic
Design is peacocky gorgeous and outrageously inventive. The highlight is two towering Rube
Goldberg-esque contraptions flanking the stage that, set into motion, deliver giddy
results. His Costume Designs are equally
inspired and flashy. Peter Nigrini’s
Projection Design add a cartoony spirit to the production. The talents of Kevin Adams (Lighting Design) and
Walter Trarbach (Sound Design) are indispensable in establishing the
imaginative underwater realm. The sound
effects produced by Mike Dobson (such as Sandy the Squirrel’s karate chops) add
an idiosyncratic dimension to the show.
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| The cast of "SpongeBob Squarepants - the Musical." |
The story by Kyle Jarrow captures the
whimsy, silliness, and outright lunacy of the animated series. He has incorporated a bevy of recognizable
routines and characters to satisfy any fan.
The writer has crafted a narrative that centers on a cataclysmic
volcanic eruption set to destroy the underwater community of Bikini Bottom. Only one man, ah sponge, can come to the
rescue and SpongeBob is up for the job as he recruits his friends to help save
the day and gain a degree of respect at the same time.
The actors and actresses are so perfectly
cast in their roles. They are led by Ethan
Slater as SpongeBob. Squat, muscular and
impossibly flexible, Slater has the look, goofiness and innocent laugh of the
loveable TV creation. He brings out the
childlike qualities of the character without being insipid or tiresome. His non-stop effervescence and sparkle
anchors the musical.
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| Gavin Lee as Squidward in his big dance number "I'm Not a Loser." |
Other standouts are Gavin Lee, woefully
wonderful as Squidward. He is
marvelously miserable as he wallows in self-pity. The performer supplies the most
crowd-pleasing moment of the show with his high stepping tap number, “I’m Not a
Loser.” Danny Skinner perfectly portrays
the lug of a Starfish, Patrick, a good-natured dimwit and BFF of SpongeBob. Lilli Cooper is playfully appealing as Sandy,
the no-nonsense squirrel living among the Bikini Bottom inhabitants. Wesley Taylor is fiendishly inept as the diabolic
Sheldon Plankton.
The score of the show is by a variety of
well-known and indie recording artists. They
include original material from Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, The
Flaming Lips, Lady Antebellum, Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, and Panic! At the
Disco. The songs are bouncy, tuneful,
and catchy and are sung with a buoyant and earnest enthusiasm.
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| Wesley Taylor as the one-eyed Plankton. |
Tina Landau, who conceived and directed
the production, has pulled out all the stops in fabricating a vision that is both
artsy and commercial. Her out-of-the-box
thinking and guidance creates another world full of wonder and merriment. She continuously fills the stage with all
manner of underwater life that bounds from the performing area. She also made a smart choice of not dressing
the actors in phony looking costumes, but to allow them, through voice, facial
expressions, body language, and subtle costuming to create more
three-dimensional characters.
The choreography by Christopher Gattelli
is creatively energetic. The dance
routines add even more fullness to a production that is overstuffed with innovation
and schtick.
The one question yet to be answered is
will audiences not familiar with SpongeBob and his mates flock to the
musical? Much of the enjoyment of the
show is seeing gags and routines from the cartoon reenacted on stage. Without a certain familiarity people could
feel left out of the party-like atmosphere.
SpongeBob the
Musical, an enchanting and loveable surprise this young Broadway season.
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