By Joseph Cervelli
The sets! The costumes! The lighting! It’s “Spongebob SquarePants” the scrumptious new musical at The Palace Theater with sensational direction by Tina Landau.
I must say that I knew nothing about this character who is a sponge living under the sea in what is known as Bikini Bottom. Yet, within minutes thanks to (oh, where to start!) everyone connected with this show you will find even if unfamiliar with the animated television series completely enamored by it.
The moment you walk into the theater your giddiness takes over while looking from one area of the stage to the other. Fish swimming along the scrim, Rube Goldberg type of contraptions on both sides of the stage which include among other things a shopping cart and huge beach balls (yes, they do come down); pool noodles on the stage representing I would think coral and it goes on and on.
And among all the visuals of the show which leads you onto a phantasmagorical journey there is a definite story which is all about tolerance, forgiveness and true friendship.
The ingratiating Ethan Slater who is a cross between a claymation figure and a slinky (remember them?) springs into all different shapes as the kind and always optimistic title character who works as a cook at the Krusty Krab restaurant and his one desire is to become a manager. Yet, the manager played by a vociferous Brian Ray Norris who, of course, is a crab (love those red claws which look like boxing gloves) does not think he is up to the job. Spongebob’s best friend is the lovable starfish Patrick Star (played with utter joy by Danny Skinner) along with Sandy Cheeks (a very good Lilli Cooper) a squirrel with a brilliant scientific mind. They have quite a task ahead of them trying to prevent Mt. Humongous from erupting and destroying their community. She has developed a device to prevent this, but it will be up to the limber SpongeBob to drop it into the volcano’s opening. Slater has quite a task climbing the various ladders which form part of the volcano to accomplish this.
Of course, there is a villain, Sheldon Plankton, played with slimy delight by Wesley Taylor who wants to stop them. The one other major character is the crotchety Squidward Q. Tentacles and played to the hilt by Gavin Lee (remember he was the fellow who walked upside down around the proscenium arch in “Mary Poppins”.) With four pant's legs and not sure how he manages this--his one big number “I’m Not a Loser” which is part “Razzle Dazzle” from “Chicago” and “One” from “A Chorus Line” is irresistible.
What is a clever idea and works superbly is having various composers contribute to the score so you have the harmonic “Hero is My Middle Name” by Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman; the catchy “Chop to the Top” by Lady Antebellum; the hard rock Steven Tyler and Joe Perry’s “Bikini Bottom Boogie.” They all blend in so perfectly which gives the show that extra pizzazz.
And speaking of pizzazz David Zinn’s sets and costumes are a feast for the eyes and senses. It is like a box of Crayola just exploded onto the stage but never mismatched which is a difficult feat. He has created the underwater world expertly with shark heads protruding from the side of the stages, surfboards surrounding Lee during his knockout number and pink jelly fish walking down the aisles.
Kevin Adams' consummate lighting is vibrantly multicolored blending in expertly with the costumes and sets.
Kyle Jarrow’s book not only has many laugh out loud moments but tender ones and the derogatory sign about land mammals going home directed to Sandy Cheeks is a lesson in acceptance which those in Bikini Bottom soon learn.
All of this jubilance would not have been possible without the keen and brilliant mind of Landau. It is a show that could have easily gone completely overboard and awry but she made sure that it flows along in a orderly manner. It enhances the viewer’s senses while never bombarding them with unnecessary touches. She also has quite amusingly included some sight gags. Did I see a video of a fiddler on top of a roof just before the people fearing the worst from the volcano of their town walk with all their belongings like villagers singing “Anatevka” from you know what show?
Here is a universally appealing show for as the circus line goes "Children of all ages."
Tickets are available at The Palace Theater 1564 Broadway or by calling 877.250.2929.
PHOTO CREDIT: JOAN MARCUS
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