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 Camp
Starring: Alana Allen, Robin D Jesus, Daniel Letterle,
Steven Cutts, Tiffany Taylor, Joanna Chilcoat, Don Dixon and Anna
Kendrick.
Written/directed by: Todd Graff
Not
a huge fan of the word camp itself - which conjures up scary visions
of podunk areas deep within some tick infested wood themed abyss
- I entered the theater with a bit of dread. Camp however is not
about the scurvy infested bowels amongst the pines, but about
a "nerdy" kids' modern (running water etc.) theatrical
camp fictitiously named 'Camp Ovation'.
It's
a place where souls filled with the desire to perform can pine
away the hours studying that perfect sonnet or dance step. The
students study theater, perform musical assortments from the likes
of Sondheim, and work through grueling dance rehearsals like the
Broadway bound babies before them.
And they do all this exhausting performing all while facing many
of their teenage size Freudian issues, adapting to peers' points
of view and ultimately shaping into the talented adults they'll
become.
This
year there's a new face among the campy thespian addicts. His
name is Vlad (Daniel Lettertle) and he's immediately a shot of
pure man heroin thanks to his brooding good looks and obvious
talents. Vlad's up for it too. Center of attention is his middle
name...
He
starts to wield his charms at both the less popular gal Ellen
(Joanna Chilcoat) and the camp's diva-in-training Jill (Alana
Allan ). Of course he's also popular with the boys who dig boys,
and none more then his flamboyant room mate Michael (Robin de
Jesus).
The realistic approach to what kids inevitably face as they mature
was nice to see. Sadly, however, the touching story falters at
times with its obvious "time-for-drama" beats writer/director
Todd Graff accented. But the young and gifted cast pour their
hearts so deeply into the production pieces (like, one imagines,
the campers at 'Stage Door' the real-life camp the story is based
upon do each summer) that unless your heart is made of coal you'll
be snapping along and humming with the tunes…okay, me at
least. And fellow fans of musical theater will be pleasantly coddled
thanks to the wonderful production numbers scattered within -
and there's even a fantabulous cameo awaiting you...
Camp
is unique and fun, too bad there wasn't one for adults!
Snack Recommendation: Fish and Chips at Po's
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