Play review by Jordan Barlett
Photos: Henry Lott
The NSHS theater department run of “The SpongeBob Musical,” directed by theatre instructor Joel King, submerged itself in laughter applause, and fun in its six-night run across the past two weeks. The play featured lights, effects, sound effects, acting, songs, and dancing of all kinds, in a joyous celebration of togetherness and tenacity as the famous cartoon was brought to life on stage by North Springs thespians. The SpongeBob musical features the titular character (played by Lydia Kennedy) and all his undersea cohorts from the SpongeBob SquarePants show, including best buddy Patrick the Starfish (Kiera Campbell), the cynical Squidward (Joe Dean), science squirrel Sandy Cheeks (Emerson Goldberg), miserly Mr. Krabs (Steven Patrick), and many more. The plot seas an underwater threatening to destroy SpongeBob’s hometown of Bikini Bottom. Everyone in town grows fearful of what might happen to them, and SpongeBob takes the lead to make sure everyone stays safe—despite most of the townspeople’s efforts to do otherwise! Meanwhile, scheming Sheldon Plankton (Solomon Morgan) tries to win back the affections of Karne the Computer (Clara Haley) by scheming to take advance of the town and hypnotize its inhabitants to get them away from loving Mr. Krab’s Krabby Patty fast food establishment where SpongeBob works, and win them over to his Chum Bucket restaurant.
SpongeBob actress Lydia Kennedy, with her cheery, reflective demeaner makes the audience feel for the pathos of SpongeBob’s desire to save Bikini Bottom from being destroyed . During the musical, no one seems to take SpongeBob seriously, especially his boss, Mr. Krabs, but in the end, he proves to everyone that he has what it takes to save them and be “management material” and not the “simple sponge” they think he is.
The play featured intense lighting and sound effects that indicated a volcano eruption was coming. Whenever the volcano eruption was hinted at, everyone started to shake and run around the stage in such a way that put you right there with the characters. Even the silliness of giant balls rolling as volcanic boulders seemed to bring menace to the proceedings and helped convey to the audience the trouble that was coming to Bikini Bottom. The students in this musical have done a great job portraying their characters. Most of them even had the responsibility of acting out multiple characters with various costume changes and a range of songs during the show. The acting in this musical was gracefully delivered! Watching how talented these actors and actresses transformed into and inhabited their characters in a way that was both familiar yet original was astounding to see. It was so easy to tell how the different characters felt about the volcano eruption, and about each other.
The acting was a huge contributor to the audience’s engagement with the show and the plight of SpongeBob. Especially notable is how Kennedy as SpongeBob conveyed a range of different emotions in certain songs despite a bright and bubbly personality. The majority of SpongeBob’s songs displayed him to be lively and vibrant, but in one or two songs, he showed emotions of mature sadness and doubt that was perfectly conveyed.
Hearing all the songs in the musical was also so incredible! From the catchy opener of “Bikini Bottom Bay” that introduces the characters to SpongeBob’s melancholic, “Not a Simple Sponge,” all of the songs proved catchy and memorable. “I Guess I Miss You,” a duet sung by SpongeBob and Patrick in their greatest moment of peril and estrangement, was arguably the best song in the production.
Many other characters had energetic songs as well, such as Squidward, Plankton and even Pearl the whale (Gracie Underwood). Many of them have great levels of vocal range and dance talent. Especially of note was Solomon Morgan rapping as Plankton. Some people wouldn’t be able to manage singing and rapping while having to memorize lines, dances, and beats in character as depictions of famous cartoons but the North Springs actors in this play pulled it off perfectly. The ovations for the songs and the students who sung them at the end of each performance is well deserved.
Additionally, the dance performances were excellent. The ones that stood out the were the “Super Sea Star Savior” song and dance with Kiera Campbell and an ensemble of Sardines, with a variety of different dance moves and tambourines, as well as the tap dances in the song “I’m not a Loser” featuring downtrodden Squidward and a chorus line of imaged sea anemones. The performers Hannah Throne and Lilly James had amazing techniques when tap dancing alongside Joe as Squidward, and their bright purple outfits brought more attention to their dancing.
The humor in the musical kept thing bobbing along, even in darker moments. A lot of scenes hilarious moments featured the rivalry between Steven Patrick scuttling along with his red boxing gloves as Mr. Krabs, jabbing at Morgan’s dark-clad and eye-patch wearing Plankton, or just SpongeBob being himself. In particular, Joe Dean’s Squidward stood out–Dean seemed to inhabit the part as if he created it. From his crotchety delivery to his extra legs (tentacles) flapping behind him as he paces around in frustration, Dean was the Squidward we all know, All the funny and sarcastic lines engaged the people watching the musical — There were many times when everyone watching the show were still smiling after the laughter died.
Seeing the SpongeBob Musical was such a great experience! Getting to watch everyone’s all-around favorite characters portrayed on stage by North Springs students was awesome, and the success of the music, acting, and effects brought more energy to the show. Despite a few issues with the sound system, The SpongeBob musical was outstanding, from the remarkable stage presence of the actors to the phenomenal music. Performed live by the North Springs student orchestra. The musical was so memorable that you would have to be a crabby patty not to want to come back and experience Bikini Bottom again.
