As a veteran viewer of Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob Squarepants, I was more than excited to see the show translated onto the stage. The musical opened on Broadway in 2016 before finally arriving in the UK and Ireland for this premiere tour with stars Tom Read Wilson and Divina de Campo onboard. The production is a colourful explosion of infectious positivity and guarantees to amuse all audience members – regardless of age.

The musical follows the citizens of Bikini Bottom as they are alerted that a volcano, Mount Humongous, is set to erupt and destroy the town and life as they know it. ‘Stay indoors, Protect the Kelp, Save yourselves’ was plastered on the television as a fish crossed the stage with a bulk pack of toilet roll, hilariously drawing from the events of the pandemic. Plankton and Karen the Computer, played by the always incredible actors Divina de Campo and Hannah Lowther, were a perfectly mischievous duo scheming against SpongeBob and his friends in an attempt to hypnotise them into eating the Chum Bucket’s food.

Lewis Cornay shone as SpongeBob, nailing his mannerisms, distinctive voice, and endless cheeriness of the sponge. Cornay’s vocal talent was undeniable throughout but particularly stood out in ‘(Just a) Simple Sponge’. He and Irfan Damani, who took to the stage as Patrick Star, had amazing chemistry and performed incredibly well as a pair. Their duet ‘(I Guess I) Miss You’ was an equally comedic and sweet ballad delivered before the starfish used Sandy’s jetpack to reach the top of Mount Humongous. The musical features an electric catalogue of original songs by renowned artists such as Cyndi Lauper, David Bowie, Steven Tyler, and Joe Perry of Aerosmith. The cast had no trouble doing these songs justice as they sang flawlessly across the two hours. Sarah Freer in particular was vocally spectacular and she perfectly embodied the role of Pearl Krabs. I also think Chrissie Bhima managed the difficult task of singing beautifully while mastering Sandy Cheeks’ Texan accent. Many cast members played multiple roles in the production and I was astonished by their unrelenting energy and talent, especially Theo Reece whose visual comedy elicited some of the biggest laughs of the evening.

Set designer Steve Howell successfully brought Bikini Bottom to Wolverhampton with replicas of settings from the show including the Krusty Krab and SpongeBob’s iconic pineapple house sitting under neon bubbles. I really enjoyed the different ways the cast interacted with the set such as how the ensemble moved staircases that acted as the treacherous terrain of Mount Humongous during ‘Chop to the Top’ or how the band was incorporated into the set. The stage was bright and fun, complimenting the dress of the characters.

Costume designer Sarah Mercadè must be applauded for the characters’ striking outfits, making the musical a real spectacle. The costumes are unique and colourful and it is easy to identify the characters. Mr Krab’s bedazzled claws; Karen the Computer’s metallic skirt; and Squidward’s sparkly four-legged suit and top hat are all elements that made the beloved characters stage-ready.

SpongeBob saved the town from ruination using Sandy’s ‘Erupter Disruptor’ leading into the finale number ‘Bikini Bottom Day Reprise’ and the Grand was alive, laughing, and cheering. After taking their final bows, the cast performed their rendition of the SpongeBob Squarepants theme song and the whole audience found themselves singing along. The immense feeling of positivity that was in the theatre was surreal; The SpongeBob Musical promises to entertain all age groups and create an atmosphere of indescribable happiness.

Rating 5/5

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