Spongebob Square Pants
South Bank Centre
(Review Complete)
Take a child or two if you want to, but there’s no need.
If, like me, the Nickolodeon cartoon Spongebob Squarepants has managed to pass you by then you won’t be familiar with the simple sponge (Spongebob) who lives in a pineapple under the sea in a town called Bikini Bottom, with his pet sea snail Gary. Spongebob works as a ‘Fry Boy’ in the Krusty Krab fast food restaurant and his best friend is Patrick Star.
The premise for the musical is that Spongebob wants a managerial position at the Krusty Krab but isn’t considered ‘management material’ by his boss, Eugene Krabs. When the local volcano, Mount Humongous threatens to erupt, Spongebob and his friends Patrick and a squirrel, who also happens to be a skilled scientist, called Sandy Cheeks set out to save the town.
Kyle Jarrow’s simple premise with modern themes woven into it such as racism, the recent pandemic and global warming has this, ostensibly children’s, musical on point, relevant and with the ever positive Spongebob at the helm, happy.
Spongebob is played perfectly by the supremely talented Lewis Cornay who once again teams up with Chrissie Bhima (Whistle down the Wind) as Sandy Cheeks. Their voices are sublime and they do justice to the varying original songs (by various artists), conceived by Tina Landau. Ifran Damani completes the lead trio as a suitably dopey and dreamy Patrick Star. The supporting team handle the excellent choreography (Fabian Aloise) well, including a magical tap number from Squidward Q Tentacles (Gareth Gates), the curmudgeonly neighbour, and a magnificent rap from Divina da Campo as the gloriously comedic and evil Sheldon J. Plankton.
The whole experience is a riot of colour with wonderful costumes (Sarah Mercadé) and hair and make up. The set is simple with the band, who double up as The Electric Skates, joining in the fun.
I thoroughly recommend this high energy, vocally exciting escape and surround yourself with positivity and bubbles for a couple of hours. Take a child or two if you want to, but there’s no need…
5 stars out of 5.
Reviewed by Emily Culverhouse