The edgiest character in cartoon history jumps onto the stage in this musical version which has now crossed the pond to tour around the UK. Guillermo Nazara shares his views on the show, to let us know if this salty montage actually made him feel in hot water.
Oh, I so fondly remember my child days watching TV, getting up early in the morning (Spanish standards) for a weekend marathon of cartoon series. A sacred ritual for my 8-year-old self (the only holy thing that’s ever been in me… See what I mean?), one of the highest points of my performance (who said the attention had to be onscreen?) was waking the whole building to the shouts of ‘ahoy, ahoy, captain’.
Spongebob Squarepants is a classic over classics. Stuffed with freshness, wit and a lot of personality, its defining style has made of it an icon for both kids and adult alike – piling up its legions of fans season over season. Producers have not been oblivious to the success of the franchise, and the attempts to milk the shark (I mean, if a snail can meow…) have been as numerous as so are the dollar signs on Mr. Krabs’s eyes. First came the movie. Then the attraction. And now, it’s time for the musical.
Maybe the anticipation wasn’t as big here as it was across the ocean, but the interest has sailed the high seas anyway. With its Little Mermaid predecessor receiving more of a dry welcome than making a splash on the deck, it’s easy to be inundated with concerns as to what to expect – chances are we might be getting the same sort of gimmicky depiction after all. And so it’s happened. Same concept, same delivery. Simple, camp and pantomime-spitting, the tales of Bikini Bottom have not deviated too far from its ancestor’s current. The only difference is that, in this case, it works.
Written by Kyle Jarrow, the show brilliantly captures the essence of its TV counterpart – bringing out the absurdity and slapstick humour of the source material into a new well-crafted plot of adventure, self-discovery and honest friendship. With a more than enjoyable repertoire (featuring a few catchy and quite hummable tunes), the piece seamlessly manages to function as a whole – combining all its elements of music, dialogue and storytelling into a rock-solid structure that never swims into shallow waters.
A few amendments still could be made, however – as despite the montage’s intentional “cut-out” design, some of the scenes could be presented in a more elaborate manner. On certain times, you can’t avoid thinking that the reason why it’s been staged that way seems like more of an excuse. And the absence of side curtains disguising the cast and stagehands backstage is no help either. But no need to make a tidal wave out of a tiny drop, as none of these small flaws can (and won’t) prevent you from submerging into the excitement of what’s anyhow a jolly good piece of family amusement.
With a fabulous shoal of performers (ranging from big names to several freshly fished choices), the catch of the day is as varied as the cast’s components. Lewis Cornay gives a much satisfying rendition of the title role, exuding the innocence and naive spark of the original character while also endowing him with a more personal, realistic approach. On the other hand, Richard J Hunt makes a memorable impression through his hilarious and quite infectious portrayal of Mr. Krabs. However, the yummiest chum in the bucket comes in the form of the six-tentacled (or four-legged) role of Squidward, played in this case by understudy Reece Kerridge in an astonishing display of comedic instincts and a natural flair for the stage.
We’ve swallowed the bait and the taste has been nice. Spongebob The Musical has proven not to be wet behind its ears, as the show successfully achieves its goals of providing a fun family piece with no more aim than to make us feel good, while creating (and bringing back) more than a couple of fond memories. Bestowed with charm, laughter and proper understanding of the genre, the whole montage is a colorful reef of transparent joy – which, by all means, will guarantee you a whale of a time.
All pictures credit to Marc Senior.
Spongebob, The Musical plays at London’s Southbank Centre until 26 August before continuing its UK tour. Tickets are available on the following link.
One response to “Review of ‘Spongebob The Musical’: “A sea of fun””
[…] The applause continues onto to its, in general, rather solid cast, excelling through their infectious energy (and cattiness) and, all in all, remarkable vocals. Among them, Trevor Ashley makes one of the most memorable appearances in the role of Gay Cliche (at least, the name is better than Miss Understanding, I never got it… okay, I’ll stop…), giving a hilarious portrayal serving as one of the main driving forces for the entire show. However, the biggest mention goes, second time in a row, to Reece Kerridge in the part of Adam/Felicia, giving a marvelous interpretation exuding charm, charisma and a flip-flopping ability (no pun intended) by playing a personage completely different from his previous work in Spongebob, The Musical. […]