Jesus Camp: The Musical Comedy

Making fun of religion is a tricky business—it's usually either offensive or hackneyed—but Jesus Camp keeps it fresh and makes for an entertaining hour. There are witty lyrics and catchy tunes galore in this show about two kids who attend a hardcore Christian summer camp in the States. Don't expect to be blown away, mainly because it starts a bit slow. But get through the first few minutes and you'll witness a sweet mini-musical, sprinkled with profanity and staged with panache.

Eleven-year-old bad boy Chad meets devout Jesus-follower Lucy, one year his senior, at the camp. Initially they don't get along, but—a little predictably—it doesn't take long for chemistry to develop. A series of plot twists—some of which we learn about, rather inelegantly, through voiceover alone—keep the show moving along at a decent pace.

Well-timed jokes, a healthy dose of self-deprecation and successful audience interaction make for an enjoyable hour. Bethan Francis and Dan Reeves may not be the world's best vocalists, but they've written an engaging new musical and, with help of pianist and composer Winston Eade, they stay in tune most of the time. What they lack on the vocal front they more than make up for in enthusiasm.