CAMP!

Cup of Hemlock Theatre Podcast reviewed CAMP! in PART 1 of our 3-part post-festival Review Roundup.

Click link for YouTube, or search for the audio-only version wherever you get your podcasts. TIMESTAMP: 2:13:26

TL;DL: Once again, a Mixtape Projects musical gave us the most to say out of any show we discussed in our roundup. With humorous and heartfelt songs that prompt thought-provoking conversations about friendship and growing up, CAMP! is a delight from beginning to end.

It's absolutely no wonder to me that this show sold out so quickly in its run. These talented teens leave it all on the stage and they're absolutely brilliant.

You can read my full review online!

I already know to go see anything produced by Mixtape Projects. They have the secret sauce to take musicals to the next level. The show is dense: each character gets his or her time, everything pays off. The pace is impressive: it’s musical theatre at 1.5x speed. The production asks a lot of its young cast, and somehow they rise to the challenge and surpass expectations. The “younger siblings” duo are stand-outs: incredible young performers. Like the other Mixtape Projects shows, I could easily imagine this mounted on a larger scale. Highly recommended.

My rating: see this show even if you're on the fence about it. I went with 6 others and they all felt the same way or stronger about that recommendation.

The level of talent on this stage is impressive, particularly strong singing and charismatic performances across the board. There are many great laughs and the serious parts of the show land too. I will be looking out for more shows featuring any of these actors.

The story is well told, every song was tight, and while there are intentionally zany antics the emotional arc felt authentically believable.

This is the best Fringe musical I’ve ever seen. I’m in awe of the talented young performers and the professionalism of this show (a live band on stage providing the music!).

I never went to sleep-away camp myself, but my son went, moving through the ranks from Camper to CIT to Counsellor. It was interesting to see a coming-of-age story set in that environment.

If you’re a fan of musicals, I can definitely recommend this Fringe show as one worth seeing.

This show was SO FUN!! The whole show I'm looking at the actors trying to figure out if they're kids or just really young looking and short adults (I was in the back lol) because I thought there was no way a Fringe show could find 8 incredibly talented kids without a single weak link in the cast, but they sure did! I was blown away by their talent. I always love Ben Kopp's songwriting (not ashamed to admit a Killing Time song has been in my Top 5 songs on Spotify Wrapped in the past...). It's crazy to think that this show had a bigger cast, and imo, was better pulled off, than some of the mainstage Mirvish shows in past years. A must-see for musical lovers.

The team behind #FringeTO '25 hit IRIS SAYS GOODBYE are back w/ this just-this-side of saccharine (& resolutely platonic) musical ode to sleepaway summers. An enthusiastic ensemble of Bravo Academy alum sell it—this'll sell out.

Fantastic cast! Excellent score- sweet, feel good musical. Loved it❤️

As a summer camp lifer, I feel like the show touched on so many core memories from my childhood as a camper and early-20s as staff. The show was, in parts, both a comedic and poignant coming-of-age story. I think for me, it was not just about the meaning of friendship and how friendships evolve as we age and grow apart, but it was also about the meaning of camp itself. My favourite line from the show was that just because something happened at camp, doesn't mean it isn't real.

But I would be remiss to say that this is just a great show about summer camp. The music - with a live band - was great, and the lyrics were clever and snappy. But the performances were outstanding. You know how sometimes child actors seem like child actors? This was not that. These were actors who happened to be youth. They were just so entertaining, and brought great energy to their characterization and especially to the choreography. The audience also brought great, supportive energy, making the evening feel like the camp plays of my own youth and adding to the overall experience.