Camp: a place usually in the country for people (usually children or adolescents) to participate in recreational or educational activities especially during the summer.
Camp: a place usually away from urban areas where tents or simple buildings (such as cabins) are erected for shelter or for temporary residence (as for labourers, prisoners, or vacationers).
Two similar definitions which produce vastly different experiences for those involved. Naomi Tessler’s CAMP, directed by Alice Lundy, tell the parallel stories of two young Jewish women at camp: one at her favourite summer camp, the other imprisoned in Auschwitz. Though separated by generations, these 15 year old girls soon learn the perils of young womanhood, yet also that they have the resilience to overcome these obstacles. Full of song, tradition, and reverence, CAMP is a moving experience which must be witnessed first hand.
Lila has been counting down the days until she gets to go to summer camp again. She’s one of the oldest campers this year, and she loves the girls whom she’s been sharing a cabin with since they were little kids. Grade 9 wasn’t a great experience for her, but she knows that she’ll be able to be her full self at camp with her friends. Meanwhile, Greta has been forcibly separated from her family, taken to Auschwitz and forced to sort the clothes of her fellow prisoners. Every day she fears for her life, and the lives of those around her. But every day, she also sings. Music has become a way for both Lila and Greta to remember where they’ve come from and have the strength to continue. But when both girls are sexually assaulted at such a young age, how will they cope? How can they withstand the shame which has been brought upon them?
Tessler’s parallel storylines both mirror and diverge greatly, creating a captivating narrative. While Lila feels at home and fully herself at her summer camp, Greta is being broken down and has to desperately hold on to any sense of self she has left. There are two bunk beds on stage, one is bare with just wood slats to sleep on while the other is furnished with comfortable bedding. Likewise, Lila has several outfits she can comfortably change into, while Greta only sports the singular striped dress and head-covering she’s been given upon her arrival. The juxtaposition of liberation versus incarceration is shown through every aspect of the production, allowing the audience to fully understand the stakes for both of these characters. Yet the moments where the two girls suffer similar traumas are a harsh reminder that while much has changed for the better, some things truly have not. The exploration of shame and guilt surrounding sexual assault is also very powerful, as it comes from both a cultural and religious context for both young women.
The other beautiful through-line of this production is the use of music and singing as a form of fortitude against adversity. Veronica Zupanic (violin) and Iris Rhian (guitar) sit on either side of the stage to accompany the various songs composed by Tessler for the production. What I found the most impactful are the moments when they ask the audience to join in and sing or hum along with them. At the beginning of the play, Lila sings a prayer over bits of bread and most of the audience joined in immediately, singing the prayer with a sense of joy and familiarity. But even the new songs created for the show are soon learned by the audience and we happily sing, lending our voices and our hearts to these characters who need them.
CAMP is a two-hander featuring Tessler as Greta and Jada Rifkin as Lila. Rifkin’s sparkling personality gets to shine through in Lila, however the darker moments for her character are a true testament to Rifkin’s talent. Tessler’s Greta is heartbreaking; I found myself wanting to comfort this powerless young woman all the way from the back row. Yet in that sadness, there’s also a deep sense of respect and empathy for the people she’s representing in this role.
“Singing has become our quiet rebellion.”
Greta and her friends in the camp learn each other’s songs, even though they’re from several different languages, and sing them to one another to bolster everyone up during the most harrowing time of their lives. This peaceful yet tenacious spirit is also paramount today. In a world where hatred seems to be prevailing and we abide in a system which wants us to be scared, numb, distracted, and exhausted, acts of joy, love, and peace are what we need. Go see a live performance, dance in your kitchen, sing along to your music in the car, paint something just for fun; all of those acts, and more, are our own “quiet rebellion” against the system. We can do our ancestors proud by carrying their light, their voices, and their courage, onwards.
CAMP runs at Sweet Action Theatre until June 14. For more information and tickets, visit: https://branchouttheatre.com/productions/public-performances/
Definitions found here: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/camp
Cover Photo: Jada Rifkin and Naomi Tessler.
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