The SpongeBob Musical
“The perfect pick-me-up show full of heart, fun and joy"
This is my second visit to see The SpongeBob Musical and you may ask why? Well, it’s an infectious show that we all need right now to elevate the joy in our lives. It doesn’t pretend to be anything other than wholesome family entertainment and it really is the perfect pick-me-up show.
There are many important messages throughout the show of climate change, exclusion from a community, and true friendship, however none of these are thrown in your face, they are seeds cleverly planted throughout the show intertwined with many wonderful musical moments and hilarious dialogue.
The cast are first class in every respect. I’ve said it before and will say it again……Lewis Cornay IS SpongeBob. The voice, the walk (which really is a sight to behold) all scream SpongeBob Squarepants in the flesh. His best friend, or BFF, is Patrick Star played superbly by Irfan Damani. During the show, their friendship wanes slightly, but after realising that they really are better together we are treated to ‘(I Guess I) Miss You’. The vocals from Cornay and Damani are so beautiful and it's a real goosebump moment.
We meet pretty much every character from the cartoon series, including villain Sheldon J Plankton played deliciously devilishly by Divina De Campo, Karen the Computer (Hannah Lowther), Sandy Cheeks (Chrissie Bhima), Pearl Krabs (Sarah Freer), Eugene Krabs (Richard J Hunt), Old Man Jenkins (Reece Kerridge), Mayor (Rebecca Lisewski), Mrs Puff (Eloise Davies) and Larry the Lobster (Theo Reece). Each and every one of the cast add so much to the show, with most playing multiple characters and keeping the energy to a real high.
Playing the role of Squidward Q Tentacles during its run at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre is Tom Read Wilson. Probably best known as the receptionist from Celebs Go Dating, Tom is every inch the show man and really shines on stage as the four-legged squid who wants nothing more than to perform. During a fever dream, Squidward gets to perform his big song ‘I’m Not a Loser’ with top hat and tails to rapturous applause from the audience.
The songs from this show are all created by some big names in the music industry including Cyndi Lauper, John Legend, They Might Be Giants and Panic! at the Disco amongst many more. You definitely leave with the tunes still rushing round your head and of course it wouldn’t be a trip to see SpongeBob without a rendition of “Who lives in a pineapple under the sea……..” of course you know the rest! The children in the audience were extremely vocal during this point and why not!
I must make mention of some outstanding vocal performances from Chrissie Bhima as Texan squirrel Sandy Cheeks and Sarah Freer as Pearl Krabs. They really are shining stars and I cannot wait to see their journeys in the world of musical theatre.
Every element of this show has been cleverly thought through by Director Tara Overfield Wilkinson from the visible sound effects for the characters from the side of the stage, including the percussion classic, the triangle, and a squeezy pig (unsure of its musical name!) which supplied the noise of Squidward Q Tentacles walking on and off the stage. It’s little things like this that makes this show the fully rounded musical that it is. Costume Supervisor, Megan Rarity has encapsulated everything that is familiar with SpongeBob Squarepants and the inhabitants of Bikini Bottom and you can instantly tell which character is which before you are introduced to them.
As you can tell, The SpongeBob Musical really has won me over and could be the happiest, silliest, life lifting musical currently out on the road. Do not miss you chance to experience the fun yourself.
This show was reviewed on the 27th June 2023. The SpongeBob Musical plays at the Wolverhampton Grand until the 1st July 2023. Tickets available here: THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL | Wolverhampton Grand Theatre
Full tour details can be found here: HOME (spongebobstage.com)
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Photo credit: Mark Senior
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