By Geneva O’Hara
Photos of Fool’s Gold by Harry Tallis
On Sunday, 7th June, the University of York’s Drama and Comedy Societies presented their Edinburgh Fringe Showcase: a compilation of scenes packed with wit, humour, and energy.
Directed by Noah Devereaux, and co-written by Noah Devereux and Jonathan Skinner, Fool’s Gold brought together the charm of an old Western with passionate performances. The audience’s experience was far improved by the appearance that the actors were not only immersed in their roles, but truly having fun. Complete with expert physical comedy and stand-in hot glue guns as weapons, Fool’s Gold was a hit.
The next scenes from the play Cubicle Dialogue exhibited sharp commentary on both politics and British culture. Between bouts of humorously playing devil’s advocate on various hot-button topics, characters joked about Meal Deals and flirtatiously discussed Tony Blair. Set in a council office, this workplace comedy reminds one of past coworkers, making for a relatable, sarcastic, and wildly funny piece, written and directed by Ben Lucas.
The Dead Ducks sketch troupe from the Comedy Society balanced brilliant comedic timing, outrageous plots, and witty dialogue in their lightning-paced run of skits. Between sea shanties and suspicious search histories, the Dead Ducks brought a hilarious and thoroughly entertaining segment to the showcase.
Between these three acts, various poems, monologues, and other sketches were showcased, making for thought-provoking—yet still humorous—interludes. Themes such as politics, Northern English culture, and romance sparked these pieces, with an outstanding performance by Christopher Leaman and Ed Wells, a scene full of comedic banter yet interspersed with moments of tension and curiosity.
Notably, this showcase took place on campus without any disguises: absent of music, intentioned lighting, and set, each actor delivered a commendable performance isolated just to themselves and their co-stars. Together, these scenes made for an evening of nearly non-stop laughter, thought-provoking and upbeat.
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