This episode is brought to you by Black Butler: Parody of the Phantomhives, a Black Butler abridged series/parody.

And by Midnight Musicals. Welcome to the podcast musical undergound, coming in early 2021. Thank you.

Hi, I'm Diva from Musical Hell, and I know the score.

["O Fortuna" performed by Cast in Bronze]

DIVA: Adaptation has always been a part of music theater,

and a significant portion of those adaptations

have always been based on material the audience will recognize.

But it feels like the last few years in particular have been dominated

by projects that can be summarized as

"Hey, remember that thing from a few decades ago? It's back! In musical form!"

Not that there's anything terribly wrong with that.

Broadway is a business after all, and getting butts into the seats is a priority.

But such projects always carry the risk of only being accessible

to those who are already invested in the property being adapted.

After all, a good adaptation should be able to stand on its own

and not just rely on the nostalgia or fandom of the viewer.

With that in mind, we're gong to look at the SpongeBob musical from the perspective of someone

who hasn't seen a single episode of SpongeBob SquarePants.

Yes, you heard right.

Despite the animated series being on for over two decades, I haven't sat down and watched any of it.

Even though I know the show has recieved a lot of critical and popular acclaim,

I've never really had the need to see it for myself.

What I do have on the other hand is a lot of people on Patreon

who don't mind paying money to hear what I have to say about things.

So, I'm going into this completely blind.

I don't need to know whether so-and-so is a beloved side character

or why this one bit calls back to such-and-such an episode.

My main objective is to discover -- can someone come to this musical

with absolutely no previous emotional envolvement

and come away with an enjoyable experience?

Let's find out.

I will say the opening number, "Bikini Bottom Day,"
does an excellent job of introducing the main cast.

If you're familiar with the show, it gives you a chance to go, "Hey, it's that guy!"

But if you're not, it helps you get your bearings easily.

CAST [singing]: end of the world, swim with the current 'til it carries you along

DIVA: The opening is also useful in establishing the aesthetic of the show.

Instead of copying the look of the cartoon,

as is normal for the touring live shows that usually tie in with animated series,

this production evokes the feel of a cartoon

through creative use of costumes, sets, sound effects, and dance.

I particularly liked the blacklight choreography for SpongeBob's

Pasek-and-Paul-esque "Just a Simple Sponge,"

which allows for some fun imagery.

SPONGEBOB [singing]: Just give me adventure! I'm a contender and more!

I will show I'm not just a sponge next door.

DIVA: The plot is a decent standalone piece, mostly focused on Bikini Bottom

being threatened with destruction from the local volcano,

with some subplots on an evil scheme to hypnotize the town,

a benefit concert,

and Patrick the starfish becoming a cult leader.

As with any good family show, there's subtext here
that the parents will easily pick up on,

like the dangers of mob mentality and prejudice,

the importance of science-based solutions in the face of disaster,

and appreciating life even when it's at its most messed up.

Boy, this is all sounding really relevant.

CAST [singing]: It's the best day ever!

DIVA: Even the expected topical references are a bit above the usual low-hanging fruit.

Doing a riff on "Anatevka"? That's a deep cut right there.

CAST [singing]: Bikini-tevka! Bikini-tevka!

DIVA: The score isn't written by a single composer, but by a collection of various pop artists.

And as a result, it is a bit of a hodgepodge but there's some noteable bits.

"Bikini Bottom Day" is particularly catchy,

and I liked Planton's villain song,

which has some clever rap patter and even leans a bit into full-on "Cabinet Battle" mode.

SPONGEBOB: Hold on, Plankton! I am simply shocked!

Bikini Bottom is our home. I can't believe you'd talk about just walking out.

Let's figure out a way to stay, today, tomorrow ...

DIVA: On the other hand, I could definitely do without the Act II opener,

involving a pirate character who the applause tells me is beloved by SpongeBob fans,

but in practical terms doesn't really add anything to the show.

PATCHY [singing]: Me laundry stays damp and me boots start to stink and me fingernails filthy and dirty.

DIVA: So, is the SpongeBob musical worth it for non-SpongeBob devotees?

I'd say yes.

It didn't chart on my best shows ever list, but it was a bit of cute fun

with some clever staging and a surprisingly moving climax.

With a lot of colorful principal characters and pop culture relevance,

it's very likely to show up in future school productions.

So it's a good thing the out-of-touch old folks in the audience should find plenty to enjoy.

I'm Diva, I know the score, and now so do you.

["O Fortuna" performed by Cast in Bronze]