The titular character (Anthony Llerandi) appears outside the pineapple in which he lives. (Photo by Larry Marano)
Slow Burn Theatre Company is throwing quite a summer bash through Sunday, June 23, complete with bubbles, beach balls, and bright colors galore.
The setting is Bikini Bottom, an underwater village teeming with animated marine life and home to SpongeBob SquarePants of cartoon fame.
The first thing you’ll likely see when you enter the theater is the outline of a pineapple likely created by projection design (the projectionist is Kacey Koploff).
As fans of “SpongeBob” know, the titular character lives in a pineapple. Meanwhile, further upstage from the pineapple is a body of water complete with bubbles and objects such as a net moving in the water.
Stage fog drifts in the air and bubbles rise to the surface of the water.
Before the show starts, a framing device introduces us to Patchy the Pirate, SpongeBob’s No. 1 fan and President of the SpongeBob fan club.
He sits on the stage and explains that he has come all the way from California to record the musical on his phone and make a “pirate copy.”
Two security guards tell Patchy to leave since the show is about to begin. But Patchy, played with winning eccentricity by Gianfranco Imbert, speaks his piece before he departs. Also, before he leaves, he encourages us to chant the titular character’s name and clap along to music. You will see Patchy again at the beginning of the second act.
And chant they did at opening night, shouting out the titular character’s name, laughing, cheering, and singing along to one or more of the songs.
Perhaps the adults in the audience were true SpongeBob fans. Or maybe their kids gave them a crash course on everything “SpongeBob” before they headed to the theater.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you are probably at least vaguely familiar with the Nickelodeon cartoon series titled “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
You may enjoy the same fun experience if you’re a SpongeBob fan or you’re familiar with Bikini Bottom. If not, the slow-moving, complex plot over two-and-a-half hours (including intermission) and the mostly forgettable score may make you yearn for the show’s conclusion. On the plus side, the show’s creators have mostly made the songs serve the story.
However, if you are like this critic, and unfamiliar with the life of this party, you may feel like an outsider.
A large portion of Slow Burn's cast appear in their colorful costumes within the colorful set. (Photo by Larry Marano)
Certainly, you cannot completely fault the actors or behind-the-scenes artists if you don’t enjoy yourself at this lively and colorful summer bash.
With wide-eyed wonder and enthusiasm, the performers speak and move like actors trying their darndest to capture the attention of toddlers.
Patrick Star (Marc Christopher) and the title character (Anthony Llerandi). (Photo by Larry Marano)
Under Slow Burn Artistic Director Patrick Fitzwater’s lively direction, the performers make broad acting choices that, like in cartoons, leave little room for nuance or subtlety. Further, as the performers portray these characters, they seem unconcerned about the volcano about to erupt and perhaps destroy their beloved town and maybe wiping them out in the process.
You will delight in the tapping by the four-legged grumpy Squidward Q. Tentacles, whom Brian Klimowski portrays with nifty footwork and a short temper. By the way, it’s a mystery how Klimowski appears on stage so believably sporting four legs. The “secret” behind this theater magic is hardly obvious.
LEFT: Patchy the Pirate (Gianfranco Imbert) does his thing before the official start of the show. (Photo by Larry Marano) RIGHT: Villains Karen the Computer (Lauren Horgan) and Sheldon Plankton (Alexander Blanco) scheme to bring down the good guys. (Photo by Larry Marano)
Of course, it also helps to cast a strong actor as the titular character. And this production has done just that. Indeed, Anthony Llerandi nails SpongeBob’s optimism, innocence and vibrance. With yellow hair and reddish-colored glasses, Llerandi commands attention without hogging the spotlight.
While SpongeBob sports yellow hair, other actors don green, red, and even purple hair. Truly, there is no shortage of colors in this feast-for-the-eyes production that includes familiar music in between scenes. For instance, you’ll hear songs such as “Sucker” by the Jonas Brothers. Among those rocking out to such songs is actor Jack Rodman, sporting green hair and vibrantly portraying a character named “Maestro,” who mostly dances.
Speaking of dancing, the actors execute choreographer Reynel Reynaldo’s physical dance moves with flair and sing with serviceable voices.
Behind the scenes, the set and costumes explode with vibrant color (the scenic designer is Timothy S. Dickey, who is also the technical director, while the costume designer is Rick Pena and his assistant is Fionnegan Amygdalitsis). In addition, lighting designer Clifford Spulock uses colors such as red and green wisely. Specifically, he bathes the stage in green lighting when the story’s villains (Lauren Horgan and Alexander Blanco, both devious) enter the action, while red lighting symbolizes passion and danger.
SpongeBob (Anthony Llerandi) and Patrick Star (Marc Christopher) rejoice. (Photo by Larry Marano)
Not everyone can be as familiar with “SpongeBob SquarePants” as Patchy the Pirate. But if you watch the Nickelodeon animated television series and read about the show’s background, you should be able to follow along despite the complex plot. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll become as fond of the show as Patchy the Pirate, join his fan club, and even replace him as the club’s president.
IF YOU GO
- WHAT: Slow Burn Theatre Company’s production of “The SpongeBob Musical.”
- WHEN: Through Sunday, June 23.
- WHERE: Broward Center for the Performing Arts’ Amaturo Theater, 201 S.W. 5th Ave. in Ft. Lauderdale.
- TICKETS: www.slowburntheatre.org or call (954) 462-0222.
