Theater Camp

Directed by Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman is this move length adaptation of a short film about a struggling summer theatre camp. When theater camp owner Joan (Amy Sederis) falls into her coma, it’s left to her “entrepreneur” son Troy (Jimmy Tatro) to pick up the pieces which includes the eclectic group of staff. This includes life long friends and frustrated performers Amos (Ben Platt) and Rebecca-Diane (Molly Gordon), dance teacher Clive (Nathan Lee Graham), stage-manager Glenn (Noah Galvin) and new girl Janet (Aro Edebiri). While the kids enthusiastically work towards the end of summer productions the camp is under threat from its well funded neighbours. We spend a summer watching kids pushed to their theatrical limit and staff coming to terms with their own life choices.

Shot as a mockumentary, Theater Camp is the love child of The Office and Glee. With its nice mix of comedy both dark and light, and musical numbers!

It’s a bit of an odd film in reality, I don’t think it totally works, but there is fun in the frustrated performers becoming overly pushy teachers and the neediness they show while pushing kids to be brave! Importantly it’s also got plenty of heart, especially in its final act as everyone comes together to try and save the camp from its evil neighbours.

Performances are fine and there’s always enjoyment to be had in talented kids performing on screen.

But you can also see its short film inspiration and the limits that imposes. Often feeling it would work better as a comedy TV show and perhaps stretches itself a little into its 90 minute run time.

Theater Camp is a quirky mocumentary, the love child of The Office and Glee. While its not original it does have plenty of heart and there’s fun to be had in frustrated performers teaching enthusiastic theater kids. While the limits of its short film idea can be seen, there’s enough to enjoy for its 92 minutes.