The appeal of Theater Camp lies in its large cast of oddballs skewering, or at least having a good time with, a seasonal camp stocked with eager youngsters yearning for their big chance on the stage. The adults in charge at AdironACTS are by only slightly more competent than their young charges.
While viewers will recognize the familiar catalog of theatre “types” providing the talent and material, we expect to be entertained by the experienced actors in charge. To this end, it was disappointing that Amy Sedaris’ character, Joan Rubinsky, who owns the camp, falls into a coma at the beginning of the movie. Imagine the scenes that might have been possible with the actress, given her history of playing off-kilter, cringe-inducing and hilarious characters.
Instead, we have Jimmy Tatro, who plays Joan’s son, Troy Rubinsky. The task of saving the camp from foreclosure falls to this dim-witted offspring and his team of crypto clowns. The harebrained schemes are not that funny but the young actors make the best of a rather weak script and certain characters that seem to be a collection of icky traits stuffed into one package.
Ben Platt and Molly Gordon, as Amos Klobuchar and Rebecca-Diane, are responsible for whipping the troupe into shape, creating an original work that will be performed at the end of camp. The depth of their delusions is obvious and they are committed to them. The premise could have been funnier but falls a bit flat.
Inevitably, people compare this film to the terrific Christopher Guest ensemble cast in “Waiting for Guffman.” It may not be a particularly apt comparison since Guest’s comedies are presented as straightforward and quasi-serious documentaries. The hilarity stems from the deluded earnestness of the characters. For Theatre Camp, the joke seems to be the whole point.
The movie is funny in its portrayal of youthful devotion to “putting on a show” but the best moments are the brief breakthrough performances by a multi-talented cast. You sense that the movie is kind of meandering through small scenes that are mere setups for jokes or just a means of highlighting a particular talent. That said, it does manage to pull off a satisfying ending, just like the oft-told tale of a crazy, doomed show finding its footing at the last possible moment.
Review by STEPHEN COY
Queerguru Contributor STEPHEN COY has been an avid reader all his (very long) life? and is finally putting his skills
to good use. He lives in Provincetown full time with his husband Jim, having finally given up the bright lights of
Boston and now haunts the streets mumbling to himself that no one reads anymore
