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Higher education professional by day, writer and pop culture enthusiast by night. When he isn't writing for The Cinema Spot, Tristian can be found creating content for his YouTube and TikTok pages, or working on the young adult novel he has been trying to finish for the last three years.
Watching a film that celebrates and uplifts creatives and performers is always nice. While theater kids are usually joked about, Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman’s Theater Camp strikes a nice balance between celebrating them and poking fun at their antics. This is largely accomplished by the story being framed as a mockumentary that follows their instructors.
The fictional theater camp, AdirondACTS, is a haven for upstate New York’s next generation of theater performers. The film opens with the camp’s director, Joan (Amy Sedaris), suffering from an epileptic seizure and falling into a coma. The camp falls under the management of her son, Troy (Jimmy Tatro), a social media influencer with zero interest in being a part of his mother’s world. Theater camp staff members Rebecca-Diane (Molly Gordon) and Amos (Ben Platt) are less than thrilled with the new leadership but vow to honor the fallen Joan by composing a musical about her life. Mix in interpersonal drama among the teachers, theater misfit antics, and a rival camp determined to take over AdirondACTS, and you have a recipe for an entertaining and emotional drama-comedy.
Performances
I must begin by praising Molly Gordon’s role in the film. Not only does she give an amazing performance as Rebecca, but she also co-wrote and co-directed the film. Gordon portrays Rebecca as a sweet and passionate friend and theater coach who wants to help her students succeed in a way that she never did. Although she made a pact with Platt’s Amos to devote their lives to teaching instead of being performers themselves, she still has that dream in her heart. Gordon brings much emotion and vulnerability to the role of a woman who wants to give her dreams one more shot while encouraging her students to pursue theirs.
Platt’s Amos is neurotic, co-dependent, and stubborn. He has long since given up on his dreams of stardom but placates himself by preparing the next generation. Platt does a great job in the role and brings the mix of intensity and vulnerability that make the character relatable. He’s funny even when he’s serious and nice, but firm with his students. It is clear here that Platt is comfortable with Gordon and their respective performances complement each other.
Supporting Characters in Theater Camp
There isn’t much to say about Jimmy Tatro’s performance as Troy. He brings the same type of “fraternity bro” energy that he’s always been known for. It works given Troy’s characterization, yet his lack of range really begins to show when the movie demands more seriousness and emotion from him. That is not to say that Tatro isn’t funny or that he doesn’t bring a certain charm to the character, but again, he struggles with the more emotional and serious moments.
Noah Galvin as the meek and shy stage director, Glenn, ends up being one of the best things about the movie. The character shows that there are outcasts, even among outcasts. While Glenn spends his days teaching the students how to work behind the scenes of the theater world and putting out literal and metaphorical fires for those around him, he has talents that are going to waste. Galvin nails the role and you cannot help but root for the character over the course of the film.
Ayo Edebiri’s character Janet is perplexing and underdeveloped in the film. She arrives at the camp to teach stage combat, and it becomes clear early on that she lied on the application. We don’t find out why she lied or why she was so desperate for a job that she took one at a theater camp. We also don’t get much from the character at all save for a few hilarious scenes of her half-heartedly trying to instruct her students. She rarely interacts with the rest of the cast, and again, viewers will find themselves wondering what the point of the character was, to begin with. Edebiri does her best with the little she’s given.
Patti Harrison, Nathan Lee Graham, Caroline Aaron, Owen Thiele, and Alan Kim also star.
Overall, Theater Camp is a funny and entertaining comedy-drama that explores the rigor and dedication it takes for adult misfits to run a camp for talented and hopeful young adults.
Higher education professional by day, writer and pop culture enthusiast by night. When he isn't writing for The Cinema Spot, Tristian can be found creating content for his YouTube and TikTok pages, or working on the young adult novel he has been trying to finish for the last three years.
This article was edited by John Tangalin.