Greenbelt summer camps are the stuff of legend in our house, and not only because my own children have been involved for many years – starting out as campers, then interns, then camp counselors. Creative Kids Camp (CKC) never fails to provide delightful community entertainment in addition to giving its campers days of art, play, comradery and performance.
This year’s CKC show, Summer Circus, is performed outdoors at the Roosevelt Center. Dan and I went to the performance that capped off the end of the first two-week session of camp, Friday, July 8, where we both promptly died of cuteness. In the play, written and directed by Chris Cherry, a group of cousins are dismayed when they are sent to the country to spend a summer on the old family farm with their mysterious Uncle Mark, who has recently returned from years of living abroad. There is no electricity at the farm, so the kids will be bereft of their electronic devices – an almost inconceivable deprivation.
Convinced that they are in for a terrible summer, the cousins are surprised to find that Uncle Mark is a dashing free spirit, who is trying to revive a failing circus that he won in a card game. Naturally, the kids pitch in to help, and they end up having the best summer ever.
Because it is a circus, an array of circus animals and performers are on display, from elephants to dogs to equestrians to unicyclists to a puppet tight-rope walker and more. And this is where the dying of cuteness comes in, so consider yourself warned. The elephants – with ears made beautifully by Arts Supervisor Nicole DeWald – joyfully celebrate who they are, singing “they feast their eyes on my size; it’s a prize I maximize / no one denies I’m a magnificent sight” as they stomp and sway on stage.
At one point, the circus dogs try to determine if one of the cousins really is the good person she claims to be. “She says she’s good,” they sing, “but she really thinks she’s better,” before concluding, “to be better is far worse than being good.” As an adult sitting in the audience, I had to wonder how many times I, too, believed that I was good but really thought that I was better. A somber reflection, yes, but a welcome one.
I can’t decide if the best thing about this musical is seeing all the children, happy, sharing their skills and killing me with cuteness, or if the best thing is seeing the radiant smiles on the faces of Cherry and pianist Stefan Brodd throughout the performance. That Cherry, Brodd and the other adults who make CKC happen so genuinely enjoy the experience makes it that much more delightful for campers and parents alike.
“After two years without any live theater performances, we are delighted to present a live show in Roosevelt Center, the heart of the historic New Deal planned community,” said Cherry. “Live outdoor pageants and shows were a highlight of Greenbelt life in the town’s early years, so we’re very happy to renew the tradition. There’s something magical about neighbors gathering to watch a joyful summer show outside, performed by enthusiastic young actors.”
The oldest group of CKC campers play the cousins, who also take the stage in the circus show as clowns, while younger campers play the aforementioned circus dogs, elephants, acrobats and equestrians. Campers enrolled in the afternoon Circus Skills class are featured in a circus specialty act. In total, the cast includes more than 60 performers.
The remaining free outdoor performances of this summer’s camp show, Summer Circus, in Roosevelt Center, will take place on three Fridays: July 22, August 5 and August 19 (weather permitting). The shows start at 9:15 a.m. and last about 50 minutes. The public is invited to enjoy the fun – bring a lawn chair.