As the Tony Award-nominated and award-winning SpongeBob Musical lands in Dublin, John Byrne talks to one of the show's key performers, RuPaul’s Drag Race star Divina de Campo.
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? If you know that the response is to shout 'SpongeBob Squarpants!’ at the top of your voice, then you should be heading to Dublin’s Bord Gáis Energy Theatre for the Irish Premiere run of the musical based on the classic Nickelodeon TV show.
Singer and former Pop Idol winner Gareth Gates and RuPaul’s Drag Race star Divina de Campo headline in this all-singing, all-dancing, dynamic stage show. Gates plays Squidward, while Lewis Cornay plays the eponymous lead. But arguably the best part in the show - the token baddie, Sheldon J Plankton - is taken by de Campo.
No stranger to musical theatre, Divina is a seasoned British drag queen and singer who was also runner-up on the first season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
Known for a high soprano and four-octave range, Divina has been featured on ITV’s The Voice and the BBC’s All Together Now. Critically acclaimed theatre credits include Mary Sunshine in Chicago and most recently her award nominated performance as Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
John Byrne: Hi Divina! How’s the show’s tour going so far as you head to Dublin?
We’re having a lovely time, thank you. It’s been really, really good fun. The cast is just so talented, and they’re just a lovely bunch to be around, and the show itself is just so joyous and much fun.
It makes so much sense to makes a musical out of a cartoon show that was just so much fun to begin with . . .
Yeah. When the show started on Broadway, some of the critics were a bit snippy about it before it actually opened. But as soon as it opened, they all just changed their minds. Overnight. They were like, ‘this is amazing - it’s really good fun’.
You know, we’re living through this absolutely crazy time, everybody’s been through such a very difficult time, and this is just a really positive, joyful, uplifting show. A real tonic for what everybody’s going through at the moment.
There are some people out there who might not know about SpongeBob, Squidward, Patrick, Sandy and the rest of the Bikini Bottom gang. Can you tell us a bit about the story the show?
Basically, these characters all live under the sea. SpongeBob is the main protagonist, so he’s the hero.
Plankton is the antagonist. He is the villain. Which is perfect for me. The situation is that there’s a volcano and about to engulf Bikini Bottom, where they all live. Plankton wants to take everybody away from Bikini Bottom and start up a new place, where he thinks he’ll kind of be in control - while SpongeBob is trying to save everybody.
That’s the basic gist of the story, and basically lots of hilarity ensues.
And although Plankton is the baddie, he’s not that bad. He’s more selfish and self-centred than outright evil. Dare I say it, he’s quite likeable . . .
Oh, he is quite likeable. But he’s also kind of complicated, you know? He doesn’t know how to talk to people or build a friendship. He doesn’t really have any friends. His only friend is his wife [Karen], who’s a computer that he’s made.
He sort of has to control everyone around him and that’s the issue for him as a character is he doesn’t know how to behave with people. That’s why he’s the way that he is: trying to destroy everything all the time, rather than just making friends.
So what’s involved for you in terms of dressing-up to play Plankton. I’m sure you’ll forgive me for saying you don’t look like Plankton?
Well, no. Plankton is very small and also, in the cartoon, he doesn’t really have a costume. He’s just plankton! The best way to describe it is he’s like a baked bean that’s green.
Sarah, who’s done the costumes, did the most amazing job and - honestly - I think I have the best costume on stage. We had discussions about the look and settled on glam rock, although there’s still a kind of Kiss vibe going on with the costume.
It’s like big shoulders, and there’s lots of padding, and there’s these enormous boots. And then to get the Plankton vibe in there, the wig has these two massive points.
And I’d imagine it takes a while for you to get ready to go out on stage of a night?
Well I’m sat here doing it and I don’t have to be on stage for another three hours. (Laughs)
Were you a fan of the show or was taking part in this musical an introduction to the crazy world of SpongeBob for you?
Yes! 100%. As soon as we managed to get more than four channels in our house - yes, I am of that age - then SpongeBob became a staple in our house. Because, if you didn’t have Nickelodeon it was kind of quite difficult to see back then.
It wasn’t on terrestrial TV all that often, but as soon as we had access I was all over SpongeBob.
And you’re no stranger to the stage either. How does SpongeBob compare to previous shows you’ve been in, such as Chicago and Hedwig?
I think they’re kind of apples and oranges. Those very much more adult-themed shows . . . they’re more about sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll. This is a very different kind of scenario. But in the sense of how the shows work, they’re exactly the same.
For example, the cast in Chicago were incredible, and it’s the same with SpongeBob. They work incredibly hard in the show. They’re all fantastic dancers and singers. It’s a real testament to them and the work that they so every single night. They really are incredible.
And whereas Chicago, Hedwig and a lot of other shows aren’t suitable for everybody in a family, SpongeBob 100% is. I think this is something you could being your four or five-year-old to and they’ll enjoy it. But grandma will also come and have a great time.
I remember watching the TV show with my son and there were funny bits that went over his head but I laughed at as an adult. It takes great skill to amuse all ages.
The thing with those American cartoons is they do that really well. It’s just like British panto. There’s something there for kids, but there’s also something for parents as well.
And SpongeBob the Musical has taken that, and it has imbued that into the show. There’s plenty in there for kids, and there are things that kids won’t necessarily understand. But the adults will.
The SpongeBob Musical, May 9-13 at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Tickets on sale through Ticketmaster.
