KidSing Presented Spoof on Summer Camp

The joys and agonies of youngsters attending their first summer camp.

 In their latest outing at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading, Beth and Al Mosier’s KidSing put on “Summer Camp: A Musical Caper about Finding a Place to Belong.”  The show choir sang, acted, and danced to a musical based on a summer camp experience written by john Jacobson and Mac Huff, both well-known for their youth productions.  Once again, Beth and Al Mosier in a ten-week session (actually shortened this year because of the snow), succeeded in putting together an energetic evening’s entertainment with a group of nineteen youngsters.

 Against a background of fear that their parents have sent them to camp to get rid of them for a while, drill sergeant camp leaders, ants, roaches, and mosquitoes, scary campfire stories, and even the possibility of BEARS, the storyline is developed in dialogue and song as the kids adapt to their new surroundings.

 In the first scene a young blogger says that her plans for spending the summer video gaming  and hanging out at the mall have been foiled by her parents who wanted her to have the same summer experience they had  when they were young: attending summer camp.  After a few tantrums, the blogger give in and joins the other first-time campers in singing “Summer Camp,” in which they cite their preparations and the fun they expect to have.

 On arrival, the campers encounter the camp director who lays down the law about keeping the place clean and being enthusiastic about it…”Hoo hoo!  Hoo hah!”  “The Morning Routine” establishes how each day starts with physical fitness and cleaning up the campsite.

 As the campers become accustomed to the routine, they gleefully sing “I Want It All” as everybody wants to get the most out of the experience, with swimming, hiking and archery on the agenda.  “Bugs on Parade” speaks of one of the most vexatious aspects of the camp.

 After “A Campfire Song,” the scary stories start with “It’s a Bear” and what happens after curfew. After being frightened, the campers compete in creating skits, mostly corny jokes.  “Crazy Camp Capers” offers encouragement to those who think they have no talent for such creativity.

 After a week of being untethered from their electronic worlds, being able to see a gazillion stars, learning new skills and making new friends, they sing the somber “Where I Belong,” reflecting on the real value of what they had learned at Camp Runamok. 

 In the joyful finale, campers sing that they can’t wait for next year’s camp to start.

 The fall session of KidSing will start on September 17.  For information see mosier-kidsing.com or on Facebook at Bath and Al Mosier’s KidSing.