Theater Camp comes with the audience advisory that it contains strobe effects and may potentially trigger seizures. And in a unique twist, this humorous mockumentary from first-time feature film directors Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman incorporates that warning into the plot.
AdirondACTS theater camp founder Joan (Amy Sedaris) suffers a seizure from the strobe light in the camp’s production of Bye Bye Birdie. Joan lapses into a coma at the worst possible time for the struggling upstate New York theater camp. It’s also horrible timing for the documentary crew since Joan was supposed to be the focus of the film and her coma occurs on the first day of shooting.
Money is a major issue and after Joan is forced to make an unexpected exit from camp, her son, Troy (Jimmy Tatro), is put in charge. Troy believes he’s a big-time social media influencer/crypto bro. Point of fact: he’s neither. He’s also not into acting and doesn’t know his Les Mis from Cats.
Troy’s met with derision by the camp’s staff who haven’t the time or patience for a theater neophyte. It doesn’t help that he’s constantly filming himself for his online fans (all tens of them).
The staff consists of an eclectic assortment of theater wannabes with minor claims to fame. (Or at least brushes with those who are famous.) Standouts among the flashy ensemble of staffers are Amos (Ben Platt), the head of drama, and Rebecca-Diane (Molly Gordon), the head of music. Julliard failures, these longtime best friends/codependent collaborators are responsible for the camp’s annual original play. This year, the obvious choice is to write about their fearless – albeit currently unconscious – leader, Joan. Its title: “Still, Joan.” (Gotta love that tip of the hat to Still Alice.)
Hopefully, Joan will survive to witness its performance. And, hopefully, the camp won’t fall into foreclosure before the play’s opening night. If they can just pull off this one big production, then maybe they can save AdirondACTS. (Why am I saying that out loud as I type? If there isn’t a real AdirondACTS, someone should jump on that name ASAP.)
Theater Camp is an expanded version of Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman, Noah Galvin, and Ben Platt’s 18-minute short film that went viral thanks to the love showered upon it by theater geeks during the pandemic. The foursome proved quite adept at mocking a world they know well. That successful short spawned this mockumentary feature, your enjoyment of which will depend on your tolerance level for precocious kids and scenery-chewing, cliché-spewing adults.
There are moments of absolute hilarity mixed with bits that feel a bit long in the tooth. Troy has the kids work as waiters by convincing them they’re participating in an immersive theater exercise, and the campers’ interactions with a group of businessmen nails the whole musical theater-kid vibe. Rebecca-Diane believes she’s a spiritualist who can channel Joan and can discern who her students were in past lives. Again, absolutely nails it.
But sometimes the jokes feel a little recycled or the delivery is just a tad off. And even at a relatively short 94 minutes, it’s tough not to want to tune out before the time the big finale arrives. But stick it out until the third act; the payoff is well worth it.
Theater Camp lands the final act. Not only lands it but exceeds all expectations. The first two acts elicited a handful of laughs. The third act sweeps in and blows the roof off the joint with the play within the film. Joan’s life story is told via witty lyrics and catchy tunes, culminating in the final showstopping number in which everyone celebrates camp life.
Any bumps in the road or missed opportunities leading up to the third act are forgiven once “Still, Joan” takes center stage.
GRADE: B
Starring: Molly Gordon, Ben Platt, Noah Galvin, Jimmy Tatro, Patti Harrison, Ayo Edibiri, Amy Sedaris, Caroline Aaron, Nathan Lee Graham, Owen Thiele, and Alan Kim
Theater Camp screened as part of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.
