Del Val thespians dove headfirst to save Bikini Bottom with this year’s production of “The SpongeBob Musical.” The musical was two-and-a-half hours of infectious optimism and songs that couldn’t help but make you smile. 

“The SpongeBob Musical” follows the story of the citizens of Bikini Bottom discovering a volcano on the brink of eruption. SpongeBob and his friends come together, singing and dancing to save their home.

The storyline became hard to follow at times, though the songs, vocals and choreography made up for this confusion.

Senior Alex Apgar plays SpongeBob SquarePants, the happy-go-lucky sea sponge. His performance was lively and true to character. Along with Apgar, stand out performances were senior Abigail Drake as Sandy Cheeks, sophomore Kathryn Giles as Pearl Krabs, junior Nolen Petty as Squidward and senior Lila Pfefferle as Patrick Star.

Their performances were fun and engaging to watch on stage. In particular, Giles captivated the audience with her strong and incredibly clear vocals.

This musical did not shy away from sound effects or instrumentation, which added to the silly atmosphere, but it did, at times, overshadow the actors on stage. During some songs, particularly those with fewer characters on stage, the vocals were drowned out by the band. While the show was still enjoyable, some of the lyrics ended up getting lost. 

However, not all of the witty dialogue and quick jokes were missed. This musical expertly poked fun at pop culture and politics, making it both relatable and hilarious. The humor throughout the show was emphasized by the choreography.

Choreography was led by Heather Fleischman, Del Val’s dance teacher, along with assistant choreographer Lila Pfefferle. Leading the rest of the cast were dance captains Nolen Petty and Mia Nassi. The dances were well performed and easily carried the audience through the show.

The audience also could not miss the gorgeous set. Built primarily from recycled materials, the set transported viewers to the town of Bikini Bottom. It was bright, fun, engaging and avoided being overwhelming. Some objects did feel out of place, though.

In the musical, SpongeBob and his friends climb the volcano, which is represented by rolling two-level platforms filled with cardboard boxes. This read as confusing to me. I was not sure what the structure was supposed to be until the end when the dialogue revealed it. This, along with the amount of people or items on stage, made the show feel too busy at times. 

Not only did the set get busy, but so did the costuming. The costuming was bright, which fit the show well, but it also became distracting. Background characters wearing heavily patterned items or rainbow tie-dye took away from the main action and songs being performed. Some costumes, such as SpongeBob’s and Sandy’s were excellent, while others were lackluster even if they fit the energy of the musical.

Callbacks to the original TV show were enjoyable, and the “SpongeBob Theme Song” from the show was a fan favorite.

Another standout song was “I’m Not A Loser” performed by Petty and the ensemble. You could not take your eyes away from the performance. The choreography, vocals, lighting and instrumentals all worked beautifully together, garnering the loudest applause from the audience of the night.

This musical is filled with whimsy and humor, causing the audience to cheer, roar with laughter and nod along to the songs. Overall, it was enjoyable and, most importantly, fun. The cast clearly loved performing and putting together this musical, just as much as the audience enjoyed watching it.

“The SpongeBob Musical” will be hitting the stage once again on March 13 and 14 in the Del Val auditorium. The tickets are $17 online or $20 at the door .