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With little fanfare and word of mouth advertising, the College of the Siskiyous Musical Comedy Club’s original production of “Straight Camp” sold out its four-night run two weeks ago to audiences that laughed out loud and long at the show’s clever and outrageous humor in the COS Black Box Theater in Weed.
Straight Camp’s plot is simple: a group of supposed gay teens, both boys and girls, are sent by their parents to a camp that will turn them straight. The message, however, is anything but simple. Just when you think you know where the story is going, the plot veers off into the unexpected, leaving you wondering where in the world it’s going next.
As the story unfolds, you realize that all is not what it seems. Straight and gay interchange, intertwine and intermix. Just who exactly is straight and who is gay makes for interesting, funny and often touching moments in the show.
Make no mistake, this show is about sexuality, with occasional jabs at religion, and mature teens and adults are the intended audience. Contrary to rumors around town, Straight Camp is not homophobic. On the contrary, it is about tolerance and attempts to reveal how destructive mindless prejudice can be.
Straight Camp, however, is not preachy. It uses zany skits, clever satire and outrageous characters to get its message across.
The two hour-plus show includes 15 original songs, with several sophisticated dance numbers. This is a very talented group of young actors and actresses that give their all.
The singing is first rate, and the dancing is surprisingly professional.
Bill Counts directed the show, played a main character – evil camp director Butch McQueen – and co-wrote the script with LeAnne Gosmeyer and Seth Fortna-Hanson.
Music and lyrics are by Kale and Cory Coppin. The Coppin brothers also act in the show.
Not an official part of the COS Theater Department, the Musical Comedy Club is run by COS students.
“We started the Club this semester,” Counts said. “We wanted to write something. It was Seth’s idea.”
Kale said the group “loved the script.”
“It had a message about equality,” Kale said. “We wrote the characters for the members of the Club, and they added improvisation lines during rehearsals.”
The group had to get permission from the theater department to put on the show.
“The department head trusted us,” Counts said.
With little fanfare and word of mouth advertising, the College of the Siskiyous Musical Comedy Club’s original production of “Straight Camp” sold out its four-night run two weeks ago to audiences that laughed out loud and long at the show’s clever and outrageous humor in the COS Black Box Theater in Weed.
Straight Camp’s plot is simple: a group of supposed gay teens, both boys and girls, are sent by their parents to a camp that will turn them straight. The message, however, is anything but simple. Just when you think you know where the story is going, the plot veers off into the unexpected, leaving you wondering where in the world it’s going next.
As the story unfolds, you realize that all is not what it seems. Straight and gay interchange, intertwine and intermix. Just who exactly is straight and who is gay makes for interesting, funny and often touching moments in the show.
Make no mistake, this show is about sexuality, with occasional jabs at religion, and mature teens and adults are the intended audience. Contrary to rumors around town, Straight Camp is not homophobic. On the contrary, it is about tolerance and attempts to reveal how destructive mindless prejudice can be.
Straight Camp, however, is not preachy. It uses zany skits, clever satire and outrageous characters to get its message across.
The two hour-plus show includes 15 original songs, with several sophisticated dance numbers. This is a very talented group of young actors and actresses that give their all.
The singing is first rate, and the dancing is surprisingly professional.
Bill Counts directed the show, played a main character – evil camp director Butch McQueen – and co-wrote the script with LeAnne Gosmeyer and Seth Fortna-Hanson.
Music and lyrics are by Kale and Cory Coppin. The Coppin brothers also act in the show.
Not an official part of the COS Theater Department, the Musical Comedy Club is run by COS students.
“We started the Club this semester,” Counts said. “We wanted to write something. It was Seth’s idea.”
Kale said the group “loved the script.”
“It had a message about equality,” Kale said. “We wrote the characters for the members of the Club, and they added improvisation lines during rehearsals.”
The group had to get permission from the theater department to put on the show.
“The department head trusted us,” Counts said.
Cory noted that due to the nature of the material, “We weren’t sure Siskiyou County was the place for this.”
Gosmeyer, who also played a character, choreographed the show.
“They were difficult numbers. I didn’t expect them to stay so easily with the music and dance,” Gosmeyer said. “They were totally mind blowing.”
Although clearly a comedy, Counts said the production had a message.
“Accept everybody for who they are,” Counts said. “There’s something to be said for that even if you’re religious; there is no sense in alienating people.”
The show is now being submitted to the Siskiyou Arts Council for consideration for a summer production in Yreka, Counts said.
This reviewer and a lot of satisfied theater-goers wish them the best in that endeavor.
