Steve Bugeja: Summer Camp

Remember the American summer of 2009, when Obama had just replaced Bush and "hope" was still the in-word across the pond? Steve Bugeja does, although his hope was focused in one particular direction. That summer he headed to the States to work as a counselor for autistic kids, and to counsel one young camper in particular: CJ, soon to be infamous for incidents involving soiled undies and a llama.

That trip wasn’t entirely altruistic: Bugeja was in his late teens and banking on his weedy British voice magically becoming a major aphrodisiac over there, his virginity having vastly outstayed its welcome. The self-effacing comic is happy to admit that he’s still not the gruffest geezer, but happily the awkwardness has evolved into a winning onstage persona.

As if to accentuate that not particularly beefy timbre, he peppers the show with booming American vocal clips: mock camp PA announcements during which Bugeja pins up pictorial evidence of those heady days, having assembled an aesthetically-pleasing campsite set during the introduction.

Summer Camp is terrific for the first 20 minutes, as the enthusiastic host presents his rich mix of characters, but then loses some momentum during a digression about a complicated life back home. It’s a decent routine that could use a prune, as we’re never quite as immersed in his camp setting afterwards.

That’s a shame, as the second half features some interesting autism info—which could be extended—a couple of impressive revelations, and at least one clap-worthy gag. A few tweaks and this late-summer trip could be memorable too.