Fox & Henriques’ Camp Counselors Grapple with Comic Catastrophe

by Robert M. Gardner

Down in La Val’s Subterranean, Theatre Lunatico brings us an exciting, dark comedy ripe for our times.  At Camp Indigo Woods, we meet five young summer camp counselors who are stand-ins for absent ‘grown-ups.’ The charming and clever teens quickly draw us into the challenges of amusing and protecting younger kids.

Four lawn chairs surround a fire where the counselors cook Smores and sneak beers after the campers have gone to bed. Their enthusiastic “Roundtable Relays” display their earnest, cooperative spirit—too good to be true. The Relays allow each camper to have their say, but the system breaks down quickly into laughable debates.

The earnest discussions of the five counsellors mirror how lies and evasions work in the adult world, becoming a metaphor for our national hypocrisy.

In our world, we make agreements, pass resolutions, but looking at today’s politics, we fail to act. The counselors have idealistic goals which they also immediately abandon. When shocking news breaks, the counselors debate whether to tell the campers, who have given up their phones.  Their debate mirrors our own futile disagreements perfectly.

Their conflicts begs mirror the ‘need to know’ stance often taken by governments. To protect the children, the counselors decide not to tell them the frightening news. Yet they agonize that this strategy will backfire if the children find out their ‘grown ups’ have been lying.

Fox and Henriques write witty, fast-paced dialogue. And the talented cast delivers laughs with aplomb. I was impressed with Christian Jimenez, a last-minute fill in as Lucas. Jimenez does an outstanding job of bringing energy and sharp timing to his delivery.

Each actor delivers a strong and witty performance. I was especially moved by the range of emotions elicited by Ananya Yogi. As Cassie, Yogi evolves from shy newbie to accepted member of the group. She shows great range in her performance.

Annika Owenmark turns in a great performance as Aiden, the overly enthusiastic Assistant Director. Aiden is torn between being totally rigid to wanting to fit in. It is hilarious to watch Aiden waffle from one position to the other. Owenmark also has an intense, comic conflict with Maeve (Kaitlyn Thomas), when shocking accusations erupt.

We realize by this point in the play that these counselors all represent the absent grown-ups. They are all trying to be responsible, but like adults they find it difficult. In fact, they are as dysfunctional as our present government. But more fun.

Although “The Grown-Ups” stems from COVID in 2021, the charming play easily mimics our present dire crisis. Our invasions of Venezuela and Iran put us into dangerous waters. We have become reactive rather than wise.

Take the time to see this exciting, stimulating play by Theatre Lunatico. You will join the campers in shock and awe and come to see how our politics have become as divisive as this summer camp.

 

“The Grown-Ups” by Skylar Fox and Simon Henriques, directed by Devon deGroot, lighting by Aella Ney, sound by Daynna Rosales, costumes by Elana Swartz, and set design by Umut Yalcinkaya, by Theatre Lunatico, at La Val’s on Euclid Avenue, Berkeley.

Info: theatrelunatico.org – to May 17, 2026.

Cast: Christian Jimenez (for Chris Contreras), Annika Owenmark, Emmy Elizabeth Pierce, Kaitlyn Thomas, and Ananya Yogi.

Banner photo: Chris Contreras, Ananya Yogi, and Kaitlyn Thomas. Photos by Denys Bastov