Since its launch in the summer of 1999, Stephen Hillenburg’s SpongeBob SquarePants has reigned as the number one kids animated TV series, while generating a universe of beloved characters, pop culture, catchphrases and meme,s plus theatrical releases, consumer products, and a global fan base. SpongeBob SquarePants has been seen in more than 170 countries, translated into 30+ languages and averages more than 500 million viewers each year.
In August 2015, Nickelodeon announced that a brand-new musical version of the adventures of everyone’s favourite sponge would be turned into a large-scale Broadway musical. Kyle Jarrow was approached to write the book, whilst Tom Kitt was given the exciting task of bringing together over 20 international artists, to create the soundtrack to Bikini Bottom. The show was a huge success and went on to win many awards. Eight and twelve Tony Award nominations - the most nominated musical of the 2017 to 2018 theatre season, winning the best scenic design of a musical (David Zinn).
Finally, the UK has its first premiere of the tour - SpongeBob has landed in the UK!
I honestly had no idea what to expect when I had the opportunity to go and catch the opening night of The SpongeBob Musical at Sheffield’s Lyceum theatre. Being well into my 20s when the cartoon first aired (January 2000) it isn’t something I’ve ever watched myself.
Other than the main character SpongeBob, (who lives in a pineapple under the sea), and his pet snail Gary (who meows like a cat - obviously - what other noise could a sea snail make?!), there’s also SpongeBob’s best friend who lives two doors away - Patrick Star - a dim-witted yet friendly pink starfish who resides under a rock. Despite his mental setbacks, Patrick sees himself as intelligent. Squidward Q Tentacles, SpongeBob's next-door neighbour and co-worker at the Krusty Krab, is an arrogant, ill-tempered octopus who enjoys playing the clarinet and painting self-portraits but hates his job as a cashier. The owner of the Krusty Krab is a miserly, greedy red crab named Mr Krabs who talks like a sailor and runs his restaurant as if it were a pirate ship. He is a single parent with a teenage daughter, a grey sperm whale with red lipstick and a yellow ponytail named Pearl. to whom he wants to bequeath his riches. Pearl does not want to continue the family business and would rather spend her time listening to music or working at the local shopping centre. Located across the street from The Krusty Krab is the unsuccessful rival restaurant - The Chum Bucket, which is run by a small, green one-eyed copepod named Plankton and his computer wife Karen. All sounds bonkers right?! Unless you’re familiar with the popular cartoon the characters seem eccentric and slightly futuristic - ironic for something created in 2000.
I however as always tried to keep an open mind. For me some things worked brilliantly - my ultimate favourite part of the entire set being the wonderful brightly coloured '90s-esque costumes (Sophie Mercadé - Costume Designer), the choreography (Fabian Aloise) and the comic pairings of Lewis Cornay (SpongeBob) and Irfan Damani (Patrick Star), but the real highlight and selling point for me in this production would be Divina De Campo’s performance as bitter fast food restaurant owner Plankton. Until this evening De Campo was simply a household name to me - I’ve friends who are obsessed with Ru Paul’s Drag Race but for me its never been a show I’ve been drawn to, but each time on stage De Campo OWNED it and had the audience eating out of the palm of De Campo's hand. Witty, camp and oozing confidence, De Campo’s performance as the “baddie” screamed “Pantomime Villain” and was by far the best thing about the entire production.
What didn’t work for me was the music - whilst the programme doesn’t list track titles, it states it has original songs from many established artists from Cyndi Lauper to Sara Bareilles to Panic! At the Disco however, I often felt the songs sounded too much of the same and became repetitive and the only real number that stuck in my head was “(Just a) Simple Sponge” by Panic! At the Disco, I also found the storyline somewhat dull and predictable - but then this IS an adaption of a kids cartoon and therefore more aimed at kids - the audience had a large number of children in who seemed to love the show and given it has been nominated and won various awards, it’s obviously popular with audiences - just maybe those audience members below a certain age.
However, I know my own young nieces absolutely adore the cartoon and would no doubt rave about the musical so if you have children under the age of ten then this is definitely a child friendly show with laughs, music and surprises a plenty. However if you’re a single person over the age of 40 like myself, maybe give this one a wide berth.
Reviewer - Charlotte Davis-Browne
on - 24.5.23
on - 24.5.23
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