“The SpongeBob Musical” could be a delightful 90-minute production for children, packed with timely, kid-accessible takes on climate change, xenophobia, and the almighty power of self-esteem and solid friendships.
Unfortunately, the show conceived by Tina Landau and based on Stephen Hillenburg’s cartoon series clocks in at two-hours-plus, leaving Kokandy Productions and director J.D. Caudill with a bloated, garish musical that will play best to young children with exceptionally sturdy attention spans. It’s elevated by a cast that rises above the material, but Kokandy’s “SpongeBob” is also marred by occasionally sloppy production values and vexing directorial missteps.
