At Orlando Rep, deep thoughts from silly ‘SpongeBob’
Could “The SpongeBob Musical” — gasp — actually be deep?
Onstage at Orlando Repertory Theatre, the adventures of the world’s most beloved animated sponge retain their cartoony vibe. But in the show’s watery depths lie deeper messages that director Jeffrey M. Revels has brought to the surface: Finding a scapegoat is a mere distraction to actually solving problems, the government and religion don’t always have the right answers, look to unite and not divide in times of turmoil, and standing up for what is right can make you a hero.
Is it really possible to get all that from a talking sponge who lives in a pineapple and works as a fry cook? It sure is.
The story bubbles along like this: SpongeBob and best friend Patrick the starfish live under the sea in Bikini Bottom, where the ever-chipper sponge works at Mr. Krabs’ restaurant and dreams of moving ahead, despite his boss’s insistence that he’s not management material.
Disaster strikes when nearby volcano Mount Humongous — voted “most likely to kill you” seven years in a row — threatens to erupt.
Rival restaurant owner Sheldon J. Plankton and his computer wife hatch a nefarious scheme related to the impending eruption while SpongeBob’s friend Sandy — a scientist who happens to be a squirrel — comes up with a plan to save the day.
There’s also the ever-mopey Squidward, who wants to be a star, and a daffy pirate who’s SpongeBob’s biggest fan — characters recognizable to anyone familiar with the long-running cartoon.
It’s all part of the off-kilter vibe that has made the show popular with children and adults. That vibe doesn’t always land with maximum effect in the Rep’s production; the pacing dragged some at a recent performance and a few of the supporting characters’ quirks don’t draw the laughs they might.
But there’s a lot to like in many of the performances, starting with SpongeBob himself.
Joel Hunt, who as an elf brought such giddy energy to the Rep’s “True North” at Christmastime, turns up his enthusiasm even higher as the perpetually upbeat sponge who expects every morning to lead to the “best day ever.”
Brandon Muñoz-Dominguez is snack-loving Patrick, a role he previously played in Celebration Theatre Company’s 2022 production
of the show. “Muñoz-Dominguez never forgets that what Patrick lacks in brainpower he makes up for with heart,” I wrote then and the same holds true now.
Lizzy Allen rounds out the heroic trio with appealing pluck and moments of vulnerable poignancy as Sandy.
Cliff Price’s scenic design is suitably fanciful, though a trio of movable ladders feels a bit basic at the climax of the plot Tara Kromer’s props, in particular a chorus of sea anemones and SpongeBob’s impassive pet snail, add color and fun.
By the way, if my opening paragraphs left you worried your children are going to receive some sort of indoctrination from this show or be exposed to some kind of “agenda” — as that sort of worrying seems to be in overdrive these days — don’t be.
The youngsters at the performance I attended were too busy laughing at SpongeBob’s funny noises and oohing at the bubbles floating overhead. They may have learned a lesson that we should be nicer to each other and work together. But that’s also a lesson on which plenty of adults could use a refresher.