By Guy Chapman – Navarro County Gazette
“Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?” “Spongebob Squarepants!”
Spongebob is also the latest production from Corsicana High School’s Tiger Theatre Company.
The Spongebob Musical opens 7:30 p.m. tonight with two additional shows at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Corsicana High School Performing Arts Center, located at 3701 E. State Hwy 22.
Based on the Nickelodeon animated series, The Spongebob Musical was co-conceived and directed by Tina Landau with songs by various artists and a book by Kyle Jarrow before making its world premiere June 2016 at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago. The local Corsicana production was directed by Tiger Theatre Company Director Alyssa Bain.
“This show has been one wild ride full of intense choreography, outstanding musical numbers, and the craziest tech we’ve ever had to do…and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Bain said. “I’m ready for this community to see the hard work that these students have put in. If you miss this show, you’re missing out on one of the most intense shows ever performed on this stage.”
The show starts as another ordinary day for Spongebob (Raistlin Janeway) and his friends Patrick Star the starfish (Bryan Bonilla), and Sandy Cheeks the squirrel (Alexis Samaniego). After Mr. Krabs (Christian Cuellar) denies Spongebob a chance to one day manage the Krusty Krab restaurant where he works, a violent tremor shakes their small town of Bikini Bottom, so it’s up to the gang to save their home from the volcano, and the ever-plotting plankton, Sheldon (Adrian Baston).
The Spongebob animated show is regularly filled with silly plots and sillier characters, and this musical is no exception. The good-natured (and sometimes flighty) characters find their own unique solutions to the dangers at hand, which leads to a variety of hi-jinks that often devolve into playful chaos.
The young cast is clearly having a good time with the singing and dancing, and getting the chance to “go big” with their moments. From the literal scene-stealing Patchy the Pirate (Diego Monreal) to the grumpy and condescending Squidward (Brady Grantham) to Spongebob’s loyal pet, Gary the Snail (Abigail Walthall) who is surprisingly emotive with simple “meowing” (as snails are obviously known to do), the cast makes the most of their animated roles.
The production is excellent as well, with bold, bright colors and fun special effects. Music is catchy overall, with a mixture of new songs and show favorites.
The musical runs about two hours long for show length with an intermission, so audiences will have time to immerse themselves in Spongebob’s cheerfully upbeat world.
Overall, The Spongebob Musical will undoubtedly please fans of the show, and those unfamiliar with the series should still find plenty of laughs and charm from the lively performances and oddball situations.
Tickets can be purchased here.
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