The world of theater arts is known for being highly exaggerated and performative as some of the world’s best musical actors bring high levels of both energy and intensity when under the bright lights. Theater would not be what it is today without the highly animated performances and peppy stage presences. Only select actors have what it truly takes to actually showcase the talent and energy that is essential in putting on a spectacular show.
There’s a certain it-factor that one must possess to get the crowd engaged in a performance. That it-factor is almost indescribable yet widely understood. There is a flamboyance that compliments every musical show, adding a flair to the entertainment aspect and making audiences beg for more. Musicals generally feature incredibly campy elements that bring the fashion, energy, and lightheartedness that the people want to see all in one.
To those who aren’t familiar with what camp is, camp is a slang term to describe something that is incredibly flamboyant, bold, and dramatic. Whether it be used to describe a style of clothing, a particular aesthetic, or a person’s personality and behavior, camp represents what feels to be a liberating exaggeration that offers a breath of fresh air. It is meant to go hand-and-hand with theater as it serves as the caffeine that adds to the coffee pot of entertainment. Most people often use the term—for lack of better wording—c*nty as a synonymous form of youthful lingo to communicate a similar idea. Campy culture often appears as loud and obnoxious—but rather in an entertaining and refreshing way.
And in my personal opinion, the demographic that understands camp the most is the LGBTQ+ community. I mean, come on—from the rainbow, pride flags to the highly decorated makeup look to the super colorful crop tops and accessories, if anyone understands camp—it’s for sure the gays. As a bisexual male, I have an understanding of campy culture to an extent, and the art of camp just so happens to work so well when featured on the big stage.
Now of course I’m not implying that all LGBTQ+ individuals are into camp and exaggerated culture—but, I believe that the community has a deeper understanding of the culture. Drag shows are a perfect example of the theatrical and performative showcases that reflect campiness, and these shows offer very similar energy to that of most musicals.
And personally, I believe featuring more members of the queer community in theater would do the industry wonders. The sass and intensity that these individuals bring to the bright lights would reflect the exaggerative and dramatic essence that many theatrical shows look to present when performing for bigger audiences.
