Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?
SpongeBob! The musical!? That’s right, gentle fish-folk…or land mammals…or whoever you are that needs a good laugh and a feel-good night out at the theatre? (And that is 100% everyone right now, so everyone should come out to the theatre.) That ridiculous and absorbent, delightful yellow sponge from Nickelodeon has his own stage musical! (And it’s not new-new…it debuted back in 2016!) But it sure is splashing onto the stage at Other Voices Theatre! The SpongeBob Musical, Directed by Steve Cairns, with musical direction by Paul Rossen, and Choreography by Kaitlyn McGuire, will have you bursting into bubbles and bubbles of laughter all throughout the performance. It’s a high-camp hilarity cruise on the high seas— well… below them, at any rate, in the beautiful, buoyant depths of Bikini Bottom! You’re in for a delightful, silly evening of feel-good fun!
Bikini Bottom never felt so inviting as it does when you walk into the theatre space inside The Performance Factory. Set Designer & Painter Christine Levy has pulled out all the stops (and quite possibly purchased every pool noodle within a 15-mile radius of Frederick!) The theatre itself has this immersive, inviting atmosphere…there’s huge sunken barrels of ‘coral’ and anemone’ everywhere and the walls are painted with the iconic Bikini Bottom flowers (inspired by the Nickelodeon animated television series.) The things Levy has managed to do with pool noodles, feathers, and some kelp-style crepe-paper is really imaginative, creative, and just plain fun! The colors are all wildly tropical and nautically inspired— and there’s even a nod to the local flavoring (one of the barrels says ‘Old Bay.’) It’s just whimsical in a wondrous way that really invites the audience to engage their imaginations, suspend their disbelief and dive to the bottom— Bikini Bottom! Levy and her team of nine set painters get everything from the walls in the house, the crates that make up the giant volcano-mountain, and all of the 2D houses of Bikini Bottoms looking bright and shiny. It’s a real team effort and this team is totally winning.
The only shining brighter than the set pieces— aside from the zany personalities and great talent featured in the cast— is the show’s lighting. By way of lighting designer Stephen Knapp, who also spearheads the show’s production design, you get all sorts of chaos and calamity happening in this underwater adventure. Which is perfect as there’s a lot of insanity running rampant through Bikini Bottom as it is suddenly finds itself at ‘End of Days!’ There’s a lot of intense flashes of red, glowing rotational colors, and water effects, which are mostly on the back-scrim projection. Knapp mingles digital movement projections with still imagery, providing the best of both worlds to augment the overall aesthetic experience of Bikini Bottom.
One of the most impressive components of OVT’s The SpongeBob Musical is the array of brightly colored and creatively styled costumes. Quite a few people think SpongeBob and their mind goes to something elaborate, like a Disney-scale Lion King or big scale-covered-sea-creature suits. Totally unnecessary and not even close to the clever fun stuff that Costume Designer Kirk Bower and his team of five fabricate into reality for this production. You gets hints and allusions of the iconic tv-characters— square pants and suspenders for SpongeBob, pink Hawaiian shirt and the iconic flower-print shorts for Patrick, etc. There are of course sartorial extensions— like boxing gloves for Larry the Lobster and Mister Crabs, which create perfectly believable claws for these crustaceans. Where Bower, who is also in charge of Props (and boy are there ever— those big bouncing boulders are hilarious!), really thrives is with some of the quirkier costume features. The Sardines (…me thinks OVT has an obsession with sardines… sardines…) who show up to worship Patrick in their rainbow-mermaid-shimmer-scale sleeves and pink caps are wild. And the outrageous cloak-cape and crown that Patrick dons in the second act is out of this world. There’s some shimmering, glimmering pink happening with the singing sea anemone costumes, and just a general sense of whimsy threaded all throughout the show’s overall sartorial selection.
If there’s one complaint to be had with the production it’s the microphone and overall sound balancing. For as creative as Sound Designer Sean Hickey is with some of the special sound effects utilized throughout the performance, is as disappointing as the ratio and balance of what’s being picked up on the body-mics and drop-mics to the music that’s being pumped through the speakers. Often times the backing music for the songs would overwhelm the solo performers, who either weren’t {visibly} body-mic’d or whose body-mic wasn’t picking up very well. This was a shame because you could see from all of these very animated performers’ faces how much intention and energy they were pouring into whatever note they were belting, you just weren’t hearing it or the lyrics over the music. There were also times when the backup singers or ensemble as a whole were overpowering the solo performers because their sounds were being picked up on the drop-mics. But sound balancing aside, the show was really entertaining and exactly what the world needs in terms of a great night of fun out of the house seeing live theatre.
Despite the sound balance issues, Musical Director Paul Rossen has really brought this cast of 26 together to sound powerful and blend solid harmonies, giving a lot of energy and enthusiasm to this upbeat, silly-good-time, feel-good show. The enthusiasm and energy of the singing matches that of the dancing, compliments of Kaitlyn McGuire’s choreography. One of the most intense and hilarious choreographic routines in the show is during “When The Going Gets Tough”, a rap/old-school hip-hop throwback featuring Plankton and his squad. It’s hilarious and very nostalgic. You get some pretty impressive dance moves— including a kickline— with the Sea Anemone Dancers (Ben Kincaid, Courtney Knoerlin, Miranda Trautman, Maurlea Long, Kaitlyn McGuire, Breton Stailey) and some full-ensemble dancing too. McGuire has a little bit of everything to keep you bouncing along during this production.
Director Steve Cairns is really hitting the proverbial nail on the head with this high-camp comedy. The performers on stage are playing these moments in panic with dead serious intensity, which makes it hilarious for us to watch. They’re having fun but not trying to be funny, which is the key to true comedy, and they’re really living it up and the audience is loving it. Sardine Squad (Brett Bair, Abreana Porter, Alisa Suser, Angelica Ramos, Maurlea Long, Kaitlyn McGuire*) shimmy-shuffles their way around the stage, speaking and giggling in unison, while The Electric Skates (Connor Cavanaugh, Angelica Ramos, Nico Thompson) are really screaming it up extreme style when they bust on the scene for their trio number “Bikini Bottom Boogie.” Each of these zany, extravagant characters have their own little quirks and Steve Cairns directorial guidance has helped them make the most of their featured moments on stage.
Arrrrgh! It wouldn’t be a SpongeBob experience without Patchy The Pirate (Ben Kincaid), who is the ‘pre-show’ fixture as well as the intermission-ignition! (See what I did there, Sandy Cheeks?) Kincaid, who looks like a cross between Jack Sparrow and Patchy from the cartoon, is living his yo-ho-jolly best just trying to see SpongeBob. Kincaid even leads the Pirates (Connor Cavanaugh, Leah Chiaverini, Nico Thompson, Dana McNemar, Kaitlyn McGuire) in a rousing, carousing round of “Poor Pirates” to kickstart the second act, and it’s a real scream!
Bikini Bottom is populated with all of your favorite characters from the TV series, including Mrs. Puff (Breton Stailey), who in the musical is less of a driving instructor with a nervous tick and more of the town drunk who is constantly sneaking sips from her flask. There’s also the bodacious bro Larry the Lobster (Nico Thompson, who doubles up quite a few times in this production) and the cantankerous Old Man Jenkins (Brett Bair), and he’s the curmudgeon fish who starts scapegoating the squirrel! Shrieking in full blown panic is Perch Perkins (Alex Gude), who has the most vivid teal hair and makeup to clash brilliantly against an orange outfit, which makes this character hyper visible for all of the ‘breaking news’ moments in which Perch Perkins is featured. And of course who could overlook the passionately purple Mayor (Dana McNemar), whose vocally channeling Sarah Palin and the entire state of Wisconsin doncha’ know? Watching McNemar make bubbly, empty promises as the Bikini Bottom politician is absolutely hysterical and McNemar’s vocal affectation is spot-on.
Leah Eden Chiaverini, playing Pearl the Whale-Daughter of Mr. Krabs (William Cox) has a really impressive voice which leans along the lines of vocal pop-star just riffing away. You get to hear Chiaverini’s vocals featured during her duet with Cox’ Mr. Krabs, “Daddy Knows Best” and when she riffs away during “Bikini Bottom Boogie.” Wardrobe did her right by giving her bright pink cheerleading couture and a big blonde beehive to accentuate the ‘whale-blowhole’ characteristics that accompanied the original cartoon character. Cox’ Mr. Krabs has the ridiculous semi-villainous cartoon mustache and a spectacular laugh, which sounds uncannily like the Mr. Krabs of the cartoon. And when he goes zany in the brain-y for his money, money, money it adds that little bit of slapstick comedy to “Daddy Knows Best.”
You’ll find yourself doing a double-take when you look at Kasey Taylor, who plays ‘Karen Computer Wife’ because she looks like she could be Magenta from the final scenes of The Rocky Horror Show. Silver space jumpsuit dress, crazy hair, metallic purple accents, she’s definitely got the look of robotics personified. When she’s told to play music- she stands like a super-hero, opens her mouth and just stands there (while Sound Designer Sean Hickey cleverly pipes tunes through the speakers; the illusion is hilarious.) And her over-the-top chemistry with Plankton only adds to the theatrical hilariousness of the production.
Diabolical evil villain! Intense inefficacy in achieving any sort of success with said diabolical villainy! That’s Plankton (Jim Gerhardt) in a nutshell! Where does one even start with all the creative insanity and clever comical brilliance going into Gerhardt’s portrayal? It’s an over-the-top, heightened-personified caricature amalgamation of Jim Carrey meets Dr. Evil meets Frankenfurter meets Jim Gerhardt splashed with punk-emo-boy-band aesthetic and some maniacally outrageous laughter. Gerhardt produces this laugh that’s like Sesame Street’s The Count met Dr. Evil and Plankton in a matter-fusing machine! It’ll have you belly-rolling at the craziness of it. And when he drops a beat and gets his triple-speed patter on during “When The Going Gets Tough” it’s sensational. Gotta love the Avalanche Maker 3000 (seriously, well done, Props Department!) and all the chaos Gerhardt’s Plankton attempts to cause with it!
Dalton Korrell is a grumpier, angrier, edgier Squidward than cartoon Squidward ever was, but it seems to fit in with the heightened level of campy and kitsch that accompanies this show. He brings a nasally drawl to his vocal affectation and grumps along with some pretty intense comic delivery. And those extra-tentacle pants are definitely something else. You get to see Korrell shining in the spotlight big time during “I’m Not A Loser”, which involves the aforementioned chorus of Sea Anemones, lots of impressive projections, and a whole bunch of frilly, feathery costume pieces that glitter all during the dance routine!
Tackling what is arguably the most complicated role in the production, as Sandy Cheeks has to be the grounded, serious, strait-laced character, Ashley Gerhardt does a superb job of still making the spunky squirrel fun and engaging. Somebody’s gotta keep Wingus & Dingus (SpongeBob and Patrick) in line when they’re busy goofing off and being themselves right at the most important, serious moment in the show’s plot! Gerhardt brings the Texan-land-mammal’s rootin’-tootin’-twang forward both when she’s talking and when she’s singing and has a sharp sense of strait-laced comic delivery. She’s chipper and plucky and makes for a solid anchor among the chaos of what all is happening in Bikini Bottom. You get a nice sampler platter of all the things Gerhardt can do with her voice in numbers like “Chop to the Top”, “Hero is My Middle Name” and “Bikini Bottom Day.”
The super-intense-mega-true friendship between SpongeBob (Danielle Comer) and Patrick Star (Randy Stull) is super-palpable and totally present. Even when they’re apart. Comer, who is youthfully charming and indefatigably positive is putting her own spin on SpongeBob. Stull is delivering textbook Patrick Star— everything from the gormless gap-mouthed staring to the affected voice. And both interpretations of the characters are perfect, suit well to this production, and make for the best friendship ever between the pair of them! The cheeky little grins and eyelash-flutter-bats that Comer throws into her performance are delightful and hilarious all at once, really paying homage to some of those animated scenes from the television series. And she’s got this bright, bubbly voice that just bounces through numbers like “Bikini Bottom Day” and “BFF.” There’s also this delicate sincere side to Comer’s voice, which you get to hear in “(Just a) Simple Sponge” and “(I Guess I) Miss You.” All of the emotions that Comer puts forth as SpongeBob— most of which are radiant, gleeful, happy feelings, glow with authenticity and simplicity. It’s nothing overly complex about this simple sponge, which makes Comer’s performance perfect for the show. Stull’s Patrick Star is made of similar stuff though with a different, expressive approach. The Patrick Star character may not be lighting up the Marianas Trench with any of his bright ideas, but Randy Stull’s overall performance will definitely light up your funny bone and your heart with all his adorable nonsense.
If nautical nonsense be something you wish— then hop to the web and get tickets for— I feel like Patrick here, nothing rhymes with wish. Well…fish. Dish. You get the point. Better yet, get your tickets to see this incredible production of SpongeBob The Musical before it drifts away into the summer sea!
Running Time: Approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes with one intermission
The SpongeBob Musical plays through August 20th 2023 with Other Voices Theatre at The Performance Factory— 244-B South Jefferson Street in Frederick, MD. Tickets are available by calling the box office at (301) 662-3722 or by purchasing them in advance online.
*at this performance
