I had serious doubts about the sponge moving in on Broadway. I imagined large, costumed characters dancing on the stage like a nightmarish Nickelodeon theme park attraction and singing high pitched songs from the series.
Boy, was I wrong.
The conception of the animated Nickelodeon series into a stage adaptation was the best I have ever seen, and rivals the Disney productions. The reimaged characters from Bikini Bottom took a human-like form with amazing costume design. This could not have been possible without the flawless casting!
Lead actor, Ethan Slater, was the embodiment of SpongeBob with his limber body and pitch perfect laugh. Another great performance was from Wesley Taylor, who played villainous Sheldon Plankton. Despite the large cast of unforgettable characters from the series, there was a nice balance in storyline and character development, so it was not a chaotic mess of “hey, remember this character”? Each character that was pulled in to the production had an integral part of the plot line.
Another win for the show was the amazing cast recording. The score was written by an all-star list of artists, including: Plain White T’s, Panic! At the Disco, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, The Flaming Lips, Sarah Bareilles, T.I., Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Lady Antebellum, John Legend, and many more. Even though it was written by artists from various genres, the music flowed smoothly together and seemed appropriate for Bikini Bottom. Each song was an original for the Broadway show.
Once the curtains rise, you are transported into the underwater world of Bikini Bottom where you are greeted by your favorite sponge and all of his friends, like Patrick Star, Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Sandy and many more beloved characters.
It is another day in paradise until they realize they are all in immediate danger of a volcano erupting and destroying their town. Although it is based off of a kid’s show, there is deep meaning in the story. The creators were very thoughtful with the story and meaning of their work. In many ways, the show is a reflection of our society and the way we cope with fear.
The once friendly and unified group of characters break off and cope with the danger in various ways, such as blaming a scapegoat for their perils, plotting for power in a time of fear, or deciding to save the day and become a hero.
In the end, it is a very liberating and positive message for the audience. The energy of this talented cast was contagious and inspiring. It is truly amazing how consistent the characters and the plotline of the series remained over the years.
If you grew up with the show, like I did, you will not be disappointed.
