SpongeBob SquarePants musical offers fun for kids, adults
Sometimes interviews are a test.
For instance, as an interviewer, what is the first question you ask of an ill-tempered cynical octopus, who hates his job as a cashier at the Krusty Krab restaurant located in the underwater village, Bikini Bottom? Do you chat about his penchant for playing the clarinet or his love of painting self-portraits?
Since the interview subject is an octopus, I started speaking about the musical version of the show playing Proctors next week. Squidward is a marine character and next door neighbor of SpongeBob SquarePants, an animated cartoon that airs on Nickolodeon television.
The musical plays Schenectady beginning Sunday, continuing through Sept. 28. It drew rave reviews on Broadway and was nominated for 12 Tony Awards.
What is remarkable about the show is that while faithfully appealing to the children who are devoted to the comic book aspect of the work, this stage presentation has great appeal to adults.
In the musical, which is starting its national tour at Proctors, Cody Cooley plays the cranky octopus who is constantly annoyed by the always optimistic SpongeBob. “I think in some cases the adults will have more fun at the show than the kids,” says Cooley.
You tend to accept Cooley’s statement as truth because he admits that he made the journey from skeptic to fan himself.
“I went to see it when it was on Broadway. I had very little interest in the show. I didn’t grow up a big fan of the television show and I feared it would be either too cartoonish or be a themepark musical. But my circle of friends insisted I would have a good time. They were right.
“I went to the show with an open-mind and an open heart and was rewarded with a show that took a lot of risks and fulfilled its goal to entertain every member of the audience.”
Cooley also came out of the show understanding why his friends all told him that he was born to play Squidward. They would say things like, “He’s grouchy and cynical, just like you.” The actor offers a bit of a chuckle admitting, “I didn’t have to change my personality for the role.”
The Proctors’ engagement is the first stop on the national tour, and the designers have been at the theater teching the show for the past couple of weeks while the actors stayed in New York City to develop their roles.
Cooley says the several weeks of rehearsal has been invaluable After all, he does play an octopus which has four legs and four arms. The time has helped him adjust to the costume and develop stamina for his star-turn number “I’m No Loser” which comes near the end of the show.
Cooley, who has been studying and performing tap dance since he was three years old, says this has been the most challenging choreography he’s ever encountered.
“It’s an 8-minute tap dance, and I have to do it while wearing an extra set of legs. It just builds and builds. The first time I did it all the way through I was exhausted.”
Actors, especially dancers, are often compared to athletes. This is one of those times.
Cooley says, “It’s like when you train for anything. I won’t say it’s easy, but the more you work, the more it becomes second nature. I’ve even figured out how to use the extra legs to give me a break during the number. Now, I regard being chosen to dance to this great choreography a special honor.”
When a grouchy, cynical person tells you “SpongeBob SquarePants” is special, you have to listen.
The musical plays Proctors Theatre, Schenectady, Sept. 22 to Sept. 28. For tickets and schedule information call (518) 346-6204 or go to proctors.org