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Encyclopedia SpongeBobia
Encyclopedia SpongeBobia
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in: Episodes, Season 7 episodes
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The Play's the Thing

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Not to be confused with "The Play's Not the Thing".

"The Play's the Thing" is a SpongeBob SquarePants episode from season 7. In this episode, Squidward does a play at the Krusty Krab.

Characters[]

Synopsis[]

Norton the mailfish goes to the Krusty Krab with a letter for Squidward, who is not at his post. SpongeBob sees this and inflates some balloons, shapes them into Squidward's form, and stands at the cash register, impersonating his co-worker. Squidward's nose blows up and the mailfish reluctantly gives the balloon Squidward the letter. He then runs out of the restaurant, screaming.

The balloons pop, waking up Squidward, who was asleep under the register. When he sees the letter, he becomes jubilant and SpongeBob joins the cheer. Mr. Krabs comes out and asks what's Squidward so happy about. Squidward tells him his script was accepted and that he quits. He walks to the front door, reading his letter. However, when he learns his script was not accepted, he turns around and returns to his post. SpongeBob gives him the idea to perform the play at the Krusty Krab. Mr. Krabs refuses to allow it at first, but when SpongeBob says he can charge customers double for the show, Mr. Krabs goes for it, but with one warning: if so much as one Krabby Patty is late, he'll shut Squidward's play down. SpongeBob suggests the event be called "Singy Eaty Time," even though Squidward says that there is no singing involved. Despite this, Mr. Krabs loves it.

The Krusty Krab holds auditions for parts and a long line of anchovies await their role. When they learn they won't be paid, they make a hasty retreat. All that's left is SpongeBob, whom Squidward dejectedly says has all the other parts.

That night, some people go to the Krusty Krab for Squidward's play. When the curtains rise, the cashier's post is replaced with a cardboard version and Squidward recites his lines. A fish comes along and asks for a Krabby Patty. Squidward shoos him away, but Mr. Krabs pops out from the window and reminds Squidward of his warning. Squidward delivers the order to the table, reciting lines which criticize the customers and the food. Squidward returns to the stage when a customer wants a refill. Squidward shouts at him, but Mr. Krabs orders him to fulfill the customer's request. Squidward walks over with a bucket of soda and splashes it on the customer. When Squidward returns to the stage, a customer wants ketchup on his patty, and Squidward squirts him with the condiment. Mr. Krabs again reminds Squidward of his warning, to which Squidward calls Mr. Krabs his "skinflint boss." Mr. Krabs is about to get angry, but Squidward tells him it's part of the play.

The Play's the Thing 161

Squidward refers to the worst part of his job, SpongeBob. The stage rotates, so the audience can see the side of the kitchen with SpongeBob, who thinks he's forgotten the lines. Squidward tells him to act like himself, so he acts like a garbage truck, flinging a bag of garbage at Squidward. Two fish try to get their orders, but Squidward ignores them, reciting his lines. The customers finally lose their patience and angrily demand Krabby Patties. Mr. Krabs tells Squidward that they haven't gotten their orders, and Squidward asks SpongeBob (still acting like a garbage truck) where the patty is. SpongeBob goes back to normal but sees the patties are now burnt. He apologizes for ruining the food, but Squidward serves the burnt patties to the customers, despite SpongeBob's warnings that they're not fit for consumption.

The customers are not happy with the quality of their meals, and Squidward tells them they wouldn't know quality "if it hit them in the face," to which a customer hurls his patty at him. The rest of the customers are eager to join in, but SpongeBob encourages them to respect the Krabby Patty. He has won them over, but Patrick ruins the tender moment when a food fight breaks out after he said that he liked throwing food. Mr. Krabs sells customers things to throw at his employees.

When the food fight is over, Squidward and SpongeBob are badly injured and Mr. Krabs tells them he has two more shows due to the success. Because of this, Squidward and SpongeBob laugh maniacally and Squidward gets hit by another Krabby Patty while SpongeBob is still laughing.

Production[]

This episode was added to the US Copyright Office on January 15, 2010, along with its sister, "A Day Without Tears," and "Summer Job."[2]

Storyboards[]

Music[]

( ‣ ) Production music
( • ) Original music
( ◦ ) SpongeBob music

 • Peg Leg Waltz - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr, Sage Guyton [Title card]
 • New Vibe Hits - Nicolas Carr ["Hello?"]
 ‣ Drama Link (D) - Hubert Clifford ["Squidward's not at his post!"]
 • Lopey Sailor's Jig - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr [SpongeBob blowing up balloons]
 • Tip Toe Jig 2 - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr [Squidward-shaped balloon]
 • Steel Licks 46 - Jeremy Wakefield [Nose deflates]
 ‣ Dramatic Impact (3) - Ivor Slaney [Mailman runs out screaming]
 • Tip Toe Jig 2 - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr [Squidward wakes up]
 ‣ Proud Fanfare - David Farnon ["Hooray! Yahoo! Whoopee!"]
 • Jovial Pirate's Jig - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr ["I'm on my happy break, Mr. Krabs."]
 ‣ Dancing In Dreamland (A) - Ron Goodwin [Squidward quits]
 • Steel Licks 18 - Jeremy Wakefield [Squidward comes back]
 • The Pollywog Strut - Nicolas Carr, Barry Anthony ["And your shirt... is that a cotton-poly blend?"]
 ‣ Film Fanfare (a) - Dick Stephen Walter ["They'll recognize my genius! And I'll become famous and...!"]
 • Daily Chores Jig - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr [Krabs agrees to let Squidward put on his play]
 • Steel Licks 22 - Jeremy Wakefield [Krabs, SpongeBob laugh]
 • Hgliss & Bell - Nicolas Carr ["Got it!"]
 • Nude Sting - Nicolas Carr ["I love it!"]
 ‣ Chorus Line [#13] - Harry Bluestone, Emil Cadkin [Auditions]
 • Lap Steel - Nicolas Carr ["Did I get the part?"]
 • It's Showtime 1 - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr [Singy-Eaty Time with Squidward Tentacles]
 • It's Showtime 3 - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr [Stage lights turned on]
 • Accordeon Ta-Da 1-4 - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr [Start of play]
 • Broken Hearted Frycook - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr ["Onto this world, an octopus was born."/"He had promise until he came to work here, at the Krusty Krab."/"But, who will refill the empty chasm in my soul?"]
 • Melodramatic Moments - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr ["No ketchup! That's terrible!"]
 • Broken Hearted Frycook - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr ["And then, there's my skinflint boss."]
 • Lopey Sailor's Jig - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr ["Um, but Mr. Krabs, I'm acting."]
 • Melodramatic Moments - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr ["And now we come to the worst part of my job...working with him."]
 • Lap Steel - Nicolas Carr ["Oh, I can do that!"]
 • Jolly Little Roger - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr [SpongeBob acting]
 • Another Tragic Tale Of Woe - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr ["But, lo and behold..."/"His genius was unrecognized."/"Taken for granted, uncredited, overlooked, ignored."]
 • Steel Licks 37 - Jeremy Wakefield [Krabs laughs]
 • Another Tragic Tale Of Woe - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr ["And furthermore..."]
 • Tension Bits - Nicolas Carr, Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [Customers demand Krabby Patties]
 ‣ Drama Link (G) - Hubert Clifford [Burnt patties]
 ‣ Fates [#62] - Gregor F. Narholz ["Squidward, forgive me."]
 • Skipping to School - Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield ["Enjoy!"]
 • Credit Card Heaven - Nicolas Carr [Choir]
 • Jovial Pirate's Jig - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr [The customers pay to throw food at Squidward]
 ‣ First Lady - Mladen Franko ["Krabby Patties are meant to be eaten, not flung."]
 • Slide Whistle Stooges Theme - Nicolas Carr, Sage Guyton, Jeremy Wakefield [Food fight]
 • It's Showtime 3 - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr [Krabs tells SpongeBob and Squidward the play is a success]
 • It's Showtime 2 - Michael Bolger, Nicolas Carr [Ending]

Release[]

Trivia[]

General[]

  • This is the first time Squidward is called an octopus.
  • The title card background for this episode is similar to those of "The Paper," "I'm Your Biggest Fanatic," "Best Frenemies," and "Squid Wood."
  • Things thrown at Squidward and SpongeBob other than burnt Krabby Patties:
    • Cups of soda
    • Fries
    • A slice of pepperoni pizza
    • A roast chicken
    • A hot dog
    • A baseball
    • A sandal
    • A banana peel
    • A plate
    • Plankton
    • A shoe
    • A bottle
    • A drumstick with a bite taken out of it
    • A spoon
    • A walking cane
    • An anchor
  • When Squidward goes to a table to give Incidental 42 a Krabby Patty, a piece of cheese appears below the top bun while Squidward is walking.
  • Patrick is actually responsible for Mr. Krabs getting money since he started back up the food fight SpongeBob had stopped.
  • This episode contains the title of the season 4 episode "The Thing" within its title; consequently, this episode is the first to contain within its title the name of an episode which premiered on an earlier date.
  • In the UK and Ireland, when SpongeBob and Squidward get thrown by objects, the shot of Plankton and the other objects are cut for epilepsy.[3]
  • This is the first episode to introduce the tracks "Peg Leg Waltz," "Lopey Sailor's Jig," "Tip Toe Jig 2," "It's Showtime," "Accordeon Ta-Da 1-4," Broken Hearted Frycook," "Melodramatic Moments," "Jolly Little Roger," and "Another Tragic Tale Of Woe."

Dub facts[]

  • In Indonesian airings, the scene where Squidward and SpongeBob are being hurt by thrown stuff is cut due to violence.
    • Additionally, the scene where Squidward says "... underpaid" is changed to "the wage is under standard" and pronounced very tragically.

Episode references[]

  • The plot of this episode is very similar to that of "Culture Shock." Both episodes involve:
    • Squidward hosting an event at the Krusty Krab
    • Squidward's act being hated
    • The patrons throwing food at him
    • Mr. Krabs expecting another show due to the success.
  • The plot concept of a character trying to entertain hungry people at the Krusty Krab as their anger evolves is reminiscent of "As Seen on TV."

Cultural references[]

  • The play's title, Squidward: Strokes of Genius, parodies the title of the 2004 film, Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius.
  • The episode's title is a reference to P. G. Wodehouse's 1926 play of the same name, which itself originates from a line from Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Errors[]

  • In the close-up shot of the mailman's letter, the mailman's sleeve is missing.
  • SpongeBob puts only five Krabby Patties on the grill, but when they are burned, there are ten.
  • When Mr. Krabs scolds Squidward for not serving the customers, he's behind the wall, in the kitchen. When the stage turns around, Mr. Krabs is gone. When Squidward says he's "underpaid," Mr. Krabs is in the audience. When the people chant "We want Krabby Patties!," Mr. Krabs is on the stage.
  • SpongeBob's shade of yellow goes from normal to deeper green when he celebrates getting the parts.
The Play's the Thing 133

Yellow teeth error.

  • While SpongeBob faces towards the camera and begins acting like a garbage truck his teeth are yellow for a split second.
    The Play's the Thing 161

    The 4th Krabby Patty is tilted down.

The Play's the Thing 162

In the next scene, it is tilted up.

  • In the first scene when the Krabby Patties are seen burnt, the fourth Krabby Patty is tilted down. However, in the second scene, it is tilted up.
    • One of the Krabby Patties is also tilted in a different direction in the second scene.
  • When SpongeBob picks up the burned patties from the grill, they don't burn his hands.


Names in other languages[]

Language Name Meaning
Russian Пьеса — это находка
P'esa — eto nakhodka		 The Play's the Discovery
Spanish (American) Lo que importa es la obra What Matters is the Play
Spanish (European) El gran drama The Big Drama

References[]

  1. ^ "The Play's the Thing" & "Summer Job" Rate n' Review - SpongeBuddy Mania Forums
  2. ^ https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=195&ti=176,195&SEQ=20241015233457&SAB1=SpongeBob&BOOL1=all%20of%20these&FLD1=Keyword%20Anywhere%20%28GKEY%29&GRP1=AND%20with%20next%20set&SAB2=Viacom&BOOL2=as%20a%20phrase&FLD2=Name%20Organization%20%28KCNC%29%20%28KCNC%29&CNT=25&PID=TaB806hwOnuCPXfzsqGKiIIm-o&SID=1
  3. ^ https://youtu.be/zlhnZSN9aoI?si=ai4SRVPlhKii5oR9
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