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Movie Review: “Theater Camp” Tries To Survive The Summer But Turns Camp To Campy

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The eccentric staff of a rundown theater camp in upstate New York must band together with the beloved founder’s bro-y son to keep the camp afloat.

I should begin by admitting I am a former high school theatre teacher and have directed many plays and musical productions in that position. I also have a very good friend who leaves his Miami environs every summer to direct shows at French Woods performing camp in the Catskills. I have a background in pulling teenagers together in a cohesive production, either improvised or from a script. What I saw in “Theater Camp” was not a “near miss” but a miss of proportions I can’t quite describe.

Judging from the list of writers, producers, and actors, this film appears to result from a rather large collaboration of would-be filmmakers who have probably strayed from theatrical roots. Unfortunately, what could have worked, doesn’t. What can I say? The reliance on stock “gay” figures isn’t funny. There are straight men in the theatre, just not this theatre. The idea of pulling together the big production to save a financially sinking camp after arriving with no script or music in hand is idiotic and extremely unfair to the kids attending. It is probably why the camp is sinking, not just the hospitalization of its founding director, Joan (Amy Sedaris).

I must admit, I’m flabbergasted at some of the ratings this film has amassed so far. Theatergoers and filmgoers should expect much more. The film’s ONLY highlight is the kids, who are funny and bright and light up the screen with their incredible talents despite the adults who can’t get their act together. On a scale of 1 to 10 … 1. This could have been so much better, but it just isn’t.

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Mildred Austin

I can remember being a girl fascinated by the original CINDERELLA and trying to understand that the characters weren’t REAL?? But how was that possible? Because my mom was a cinema lover, she often took me with her instead of leaving me with a babysitter. I was so young in my first film experiences, I would stare at that BIG screen and wonder “what were those people up there saying?” And then as a slightly older girl watching Margaret O’Brien in THE RED SHOES, I dreamed of being a ballerina. Later, in a theatre with my mom and aunt watching WUTHERING HEIGHTS, I found myself sobbing along with the two of them as Katherine and Heathcliff were separated forever. I have always loved film. In college in the ’60s, the Granada in Dallas became our “go-to” art theater where we soaked up 8 ½, THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY, WILD STRAWBERRIES and every other Bergman film to play there. Although my training is in theatre and I have acted and directed in Repertory Theatre, college and community theatre, I am always drawn back to the films.

I live in Garland and after being retired for 18 years, I have gone back to work in an elementary school library. I am currently serving as an Associate Critic for John Garcia’s THE COLUMN, an online theatre magazine and I see and review local community theatre shows for that outlet. I’m excited to have the opportunity to extend my experiences now to film and review for IRISH FILM CRITIC. See you at the movies - my preferred seat is back row!