‘Dramarama’: A 90s-Nostalgic Love Letter to Theater Geeks Everywhere
Back in 2003, Todd Graff’s Camp was a hilarious look at a particular species of high schooler, one that rarely receives fair representation in movies: the theater geek. The indie darling, which featured a literal scene-stealing Anna Kendrick, was a joyous celebration of teens who’d rather play Sondheim than sports and make vintage pop culture references that would fly over the heads of their non-musical peers. Seventeen years later, writer-director Jonathan Wysocki continues that celebration — this time, adding a touch of 90s nostalgia — with the funny, tender, and heartwarming Dramarama.
However, rather than putting present-day theater geeks in their element, Wysocki places his teens off-stage at a murder-mystery-themed slumber party in the California suburbs of 1994 (starting off in period costumes based on literary figures no less). And instead of obsessing over sex like characters in most hormonal teen romps, these friends partake in antics like quoting Tennessee Williams in between sips of sparkling cider, debating story arcs in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and making references to Clue and Fried Green Tomatoes. They’re 18 going on 40.
Dramarama is also a “one last summer before college” story for our quintet, which includes NYU-bound hostess Rose (Anna Grace Barlow), the earnest and prudish Claire (Megan Suri), leading man wannabe Oscar (a charismatic Nico Greetham), sarcastic singer Ally (Danielle Kay), and our main protagonist, Gene (Nick Pugliese in a terrific debut), who is struggling to come out of the closet to his “sheltered Christian” friends because he’s scared of what they might think. It’s an understandable conflict we’ve seen before, but Wysocki manages to put a nuanced spin on the much-treaded Coming Out Story, maneuvering around some tropes, especially when it comes to its imperfectly perfect yet satisfying ending. In fact, the film tenderly manages to empathize with every character as they each have their own revelation to grapple with before going their separate ways. It’s not so much a “coming out” tale as it is a “coming to terms with oneself” experience.
Comparisons to 2018’s Love, Simon may be inevitable, but the stage for Dramarama is set much like a play itself, with most of the action centered within Rose’s house and characters moving in and out of rooms, exchanging barbs and having intimate one-on-ones. The theatrics here are contained, and yet the story briskly moves along, mostly due to the sharp chemistry among the five young actors. Each brings his or her late bloomer to vivid life without venturing too deep into cliché territory. For the most part, these are poignantly fleshed-out characters who will make any former drama nerd flashback to their own high school experiences. (As a proud member from the mid-to-late 90s, I know I did.) These kids are also a little more grounded than those over-the-top Glee show-offs from a decade ago. After all, we’re dealing with a mixed-gender group of Catholic school grads, and Wysocki is able to avoid turning them into chaste cardboard cutouts. Megan Suri’s Claire may seem like a leftover from Saved!, but she’s nowhere near as extreme as Mandy Moore’s mean girl from that 2004 movie.
Where Dramarama also shines is in its attention to detail. Slumber party junk food essentials? Check. A brief homage to the manic third-act sequence from Clue? You betcha. And throughout, that kind of specificity helps the film engagingly depict the jealousy and competition that exists among even the tightest friends. Most of the interactions in the first act are done with a purposely overdramatic flair that is all too recognizable for anyone who has ever brushed shoulders with a theater geek or two. But by the end, what Dramarama ultimately demonstrates is the love that positions these five individuals as the adolescent prototype of a chosen family.
Dramarama recently received its LA Premiere at Outfest. Screenings have started virtually, via www.outfestla2020.com, and will remain online for 72 hours. Dramarama will also receive an additional drive-in screening at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu on the final day of the festival, Sunday, August 30th at 7:45PM.
