The SpongeBob Musical

Alexandra Theatre’s The SpongeBob Musical is the most colourful musical you will see this year, possibly – this decade. This big budget, large cast extravaganza fills The Regal Theatre with energy and verve and captures the audience’s hearts.

I saw SpongeBob with a couple of hundred high school students at the final preview and this often hard-to-please demographic were absolutely immersed, clapping along with numerous songs, cheering the heroes (and occasionally the bad guys – but the dance moves deserve it) and sighing in sympathy. While the conventional audiences may not be quite as audible, this show is clearly doing a lot of things right.

Indubitably the most colourful show of the season, Meg Andrichem-Considine and Pauline Nicholls costumes are for the most part, a delight – with the audience immediately recognising favourite characters. The best wigs of the year (and there are dozens of them, in the brightest of colours), designed and dressed by Yvette Drager Wetherilt, add more pizazz. Dene Jones, who designed both set and lighting, also makes liberal use of colour – and the ‘volcano’ set (which employed children’s playground equipment) was particularly innovative.

All that colour is matched by big, high-energy performers. Leading performers Joshua Hollander as SpongeBob SquarePants, and Riley Merigan as Patrick Star are both reprising these roles, having starred in Art in Motion’s version of this show, so perhaps unsurprisingly are very comfortable in their characterisations and bring verve to every moment. Liam Tickner as Eugene H. Krabs is also a veteran in the role and finds new depth – and crabbiness.

Taylor Westland is delightful as clever squirrel Sandy Cheeks, while Jason Nettle won lots of sympathy as the overlooked Squidward. Ciara Malone brings gorgeous vocals and a lovely dose of teen angst to the very pink Pearl Krabs, while Max Leunig’s direct address to the audience as Patchy the Pirate went down a treat.

Aramis Martino was a worthy villain as Sheldon J. Plankton (with some epic dance moves), and he was nicely partnered by Helen Carey as Karen the Computer – with both these baddies deservedly beloved by the preview audience.

Solid support from a huge collection of bizarre cameo characters and a strong and busy ensemble. Dancing was fun throughout, with some great group numbers from choreographer Gillian Binks and some impressive specialty choreography from Chloe Palliser, Caleb Stevens and Connie Wetherilt.

A live (and also colourful) orchestra, led by Musical Directors Shaun Davis and Maddison Moulin, played well, and sound was supplemented by Michael Baker’s impressive and expertly timed on-stage foley work – which helped maintain the cartoon feel.

Alexandra Theatre’s The SpongeBob Musical was a bright and exciting “cartoon on stage”.  Fun, bright and breezy, it brightened the day of those who managed to see it during its short but high impact run.

Kimberley Shaw