While Christopher Guest’s immortal mockumentary writing/directing approach in films like Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show paved the way for Theater Camp, The Office cemented the style as a permanent fixture of the 21st-century visual media landscape. For those worried that this technique has been long overdone, Theater Camp might show you there is some life left in the comedy subgenre. Here is the rundown on this lovingly-made Sundance feature.
The Plot of Theater Camp
Beloved upstate New York theater camp Adirond-Acts falls into financial and spiritual turmoil when the founder falls into a coma. To keep things moving at the drama and musical haven, her son takes over, and the staff he could afford trudges onward, trying to cobble together the spirit of what makes the camp home for so many young actors.
Theater Camp Capitalizes on Niche Appeal
The central cast of counselors at Adirond-Acts, played by Molly Gordon, Ben Platt, and Noah Galvin, are also involved in writing and producing Theater Camp. Even without this knowledge, the film makes it apparent that this is a film made by and for drama folks. The tiny details, including references to musicals, immersive theater, and a particularly hilarious “throat coat” tea gag, are as essential to the film’s ambiance as its over-the-top elements.
Instantly, the rough, improvisational quality of Theater Camp recalls Christopher Guest’s landmark mockumentaries; however, while similarly poking fun at the ridiculousness of some characters, this film wants you to root for them as well. Its sentimental nature drives the premise from minute one, and while this leads to a conventional “camp in trouble” structure for Theater Camp, the result is earnest in its love for the subject. The creators believe in the power of the community that Theater Camp fosters, just as the counselors have no cynicism about their efforts because they know how much it means for the theater-loving outcast kids.
‘Theater Camp,’ streaming now on Hulu
The Balances and Benefits of PG-13 Humor
Those who saw Gordon in Emma Seligman’s Shiva Baby or supporting cast member Ayo Edebiri in Seligman’s recent film Bottoms might initially be surprised that Theater Camp cannot go all out with its PG-13 rating. Economic reasons aside, this restrictive approach can have its creative benefits, but while equally as formulaic as Bottoms, Theater Camp is admitted not as outright funny or purely zany. Without its outer framing technique, one could easily dismiss Theater Camp as a tame version of that same campy humor style. Nevertheless, we urge you not to write off this inferior yet jubilant and heartwarming film so quickly and take it on separate terms.
To those who do not want curses every few minutes and unequivocally love that Office style, Theater Camp utilizes its content restriction effectively, teeming with coming-of-age discoveries and slightly toned-down jokes on the hedonism and sexuality of the theater lifestyle. The content is about as child-friendly as Pitch Perfect, but the humor comes from cast chemistry and writing, not its inappropriateness. This movie’s ultimate impact comes from humorous drama and heartfelt appreciation for supporting actors of all shapes and sizes. For a cute, whimsical mockumentary on theater life that will periodically have you in stitches, there is no better current option than Theater Camp.
Theater Camp is streaming now on Hulu.