Theater Camp (2023) — a narratively messy, unfunny mockumentary

Set in the world of a summer camp for drama geeks in the Adirondack Mountains, upstate New York, Theater Camp assumes a documentary feel akin to factual works like Jesus Camp (2006), as well as cult comedies like Christopher Guest’s Best in Show (2000) and Rob Reiner’s This Is Spinal Tap (1984). Based on a short film by Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman, and Ben Platt (all of whom were no doubt theatre kids in their youth) it’s directed by Gordon and Lieberman and stars the whole crew as part of an ensemble cast. Its plot sees Amos (Platt) and Rebecca-Diane (Gordon) as best friends who went to summer camp as part of the AdirondACTS organisation as kids, but who’ve since grown up to become teachers that produce their musicals alongside the roster of standards each year. Rebecca-Diane once had a crush on Amos before he came out as gay, so in their own words they now “share a soul”, or are codependent, as observed by new teacher Janet (Ayo Edebiri). When AdirondACTS director Joan (Amy Sedaris) falls into a coma during production of Bye Bye Birdie, her vlog bro son Troy (Jimmy Tatro) takes control and… ‘tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme’ (a reference I’m sure these kids would love)… the camp finds itself in competition with a rich kids’ alternative, on top of needing to stop the bank foreclosing and keep the show going. <a href="https://medium.com/framerated/theater-camp-2023-a-narratively-messy-unfunny-mockumentary-10fe033fd226">Visit Now</a>