neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Camp
	Todd Graff Daniel Letterle, Joanna Chilcoat, Robin de Jesus, Don Dixon 2003		As the title suggests, "Camp" is about a camp and is, well, campy. The camp that serves as center-stage for "Camp" is a show-biz summer sleepaway thing — a woodland theater-arts program where kids who are misfits at home or school can hone their skills as singers, dancers and actors alongside like-minded, talented peers. That's right. "Camp" is "Fame" with mosquitoes. These gutsy young troupers are gonna triumph over their insecurities and make it, dammit! They strive for excellence, vie for roles, fall in love, scheme against one another, and bond for the greater good of THE SHOW. There's the plain-Jane actress with tons of personality, the introverted plump girl with the big singing voice, and the handsome hunk who may be confused about his sexuality. There's the drag-queen-in-training, beaten by classmates when he wore a dress to his prom, but free to be him/herself at camp. Even some instructors have issues. "Camp" is based on writer/director Todd Graff's time in a similar program. With many characters to accommodate, it feels scattered. Amusing? Yeah. Corny? You bet, but you'll root for the young unknowns in "Camp." They put themselves on the line and do themselves proud.