View from the Green Room: Superhero SpongeBob saves Bikini Bottom and the world too – Whatson

REVIEW: SpongeBob SquarePants Musical Comes to Garter Lane

Underestimate this show at your peril. I mean… a musical about a nerdy sponge (Caoimhe Scanlon) who lives in a pineapple under the sea and works as a chef at a local chip shop in a town called Bikini Bottom? I mean… come on!

And he’s got friends you don’t know yet. Like dreamy starfish Patrick (Zach Smith) and science-mad Sandy Cheeks (Aoife O’Connor), both of whom are determined to save Bikini Bottom from an impending earthquake with an invention called the “Erupter Switch.”

Amazing? Not really, if you are a child in a universe of wonder and imagination where we all find ourselves in the zoo of novelty and connections can be made by colors, words or a simple note.

When the world is dark, who needs reality?

And yet… and yet… reality sets in in the form of man-made environmental destruction, where science is ignored and alarmists like Sandy Cheeks are mocked. Global warming is real here, and SpongeBob has only 24 hours to save Bikini Bottom. But… hey… when the time comes, the little hero comes.

Throughout the storyline, clever and subtle allusions to current environmental issues and the political demonization of marginalized figures, such as squirrels and mammals, point to current global issues.

Caoimhe Scanlon is remarkable as the nerdy SpongeBob as she combines all aspects of musical theatre into one superb performance. Caoimhe is a delight as SpongeBob’s edgy and dynamic personality and is all over this show. Not only does she drive the story forward, but her acting, singing, dancing, comedic and set design talents are on full display all night long.

Don’t think this is a one-star show, as there are exceptional performances all over the stage, from a cast of young stars who fill me with hope for the future of musical theatre in Waterford.

Zach Smith’s performance as the somewhat dreamy starfish is his best yet. Aoife O’Connor’s singing is a highlight of the show, while Holly Coogan makes the most of the villainous role of Sheldon J. Plankton.

Declan Ryan is a melancholy, cool-as-nails Carlotta who dreams of musical glory, while Caoilán Walsh dominates the stage as opportunistic entrepreneur Eugene Krabs, who turns down SpongeBob’s promotion at his restaurant. Phoebe Boylan plays a feisty teenage whale with issues in a cheerleader costume??? — okay, I never really understood how that worked — and, to top it all off, she sings one of the show’s best numbers in “Daddy Knows Best.”

One of the hallmarks of the show is the constant use of the large choir on stage in the big numbers and the group movements and imagery by director/choreographer David Hennessy are clever and well thought out. There is a very simple but effective set in aqua blue with a cave video screen in the back which is strong in storytelling.

The use of roll-on flats – well orchestrated by stage manager Juckey Collins – allows for smaller, inserted scenes that give rhythm and energy to the script.

Musical director David Hayes makes a delightful score that nods to other musical styles, from C&W to calypso, a lot of fun.

Pop duo Sardine (Ellie Kenny and Anna Rose Murray) and the choir scenes are excellent, while Evan Walsh is the best as a bad news monger. Girl pop group Electric Skates (Chloe Byrne, Sophie Tubritt and Sophia Ryan Toader) are mean girls with a laundry list of demands and Faye Gerrihy is a Bikini Bottom mayor who can’t be trusted.

Ibraham Hussein holds the show together as the somewhat detached French narrator while two security guards (Sophia Ryan Toader and Kitty Dwyer/Leah Barden) chase down Patchy the pirate (Chloe Byrne) who is determined to disrupt the show.

A heartwarming story of love, friendship and community with my brand new best friend SpongeBob from David Hennessy Stage School in Garter Lane.