The Second Best School Shooting | Pleasance Courtyard (Baby Grand) (Ed Fringe)

The Second Best School Shooting, written by Alice Stanley Jr and directed by Riley Rose Critchlow, is a powerful hour long show that highlights the lasting effects of witnessing a school shooting through humour. Stanley Jr's writing, as the two characters process their own trauma on a personal and social level, is quietly brilliant as the show becomes louder with the shadowing effect of large scale tragedy.

Best friends Parker (Rachael DeBoer) and Ava (Shaylaren Hilton) find themselves in a unique situation; navigating the trauma from being in a school shooting. As the show's title suggests, however, another school shooting at a different local school on the same day draws away attention and sympathy from Ava and Parker's plight. This other school shooting resulting in several dead students, and rising media attention due to a student taking to share their story via social media, much to Ava's frustration.

Denoting themselves to "the second best shooting", Ava and Parker both handle their shooting in different ways. Parker quietly tries to move on with her life, preferring to bury herself into her studies, focusing on her future. Ava rallies, attempting to absorb all political wrongdoing, starting with gun violence, and aims popularise their school shooting online as well. As both girls grip onto their new found productivity like a raft in a storm, their words slowly come undone until Ava is pushed over the line, unintentionally sabotaging them both.

The play starts and ends with the friendship between Ava and Parker, as the two very different friends take on two different approaches to the incident. Parker seems unwilling to discuss the incident, clearly still troubled by the events of the shooting, whereas Ava is fired up about the event, loudly contemplating the day. A fellow classmate, Ron, an otherwise annoying boy, tackled the school shooting, ultimately preventing any deaths; yet still supports the right to bear arms. This sore subject places the two girls at odds as they discuss the pros and cons of guns, an ever hot topic that simply sizzles in the context of this play.

Stanley Jr makes the smart decision to litter this otherwise poignant and serious conversation with comedy as the conversation is overshadowed by the growing popularity of the other school shooting; headed by a girl named Margo who shares their story. This leads to a cleverly written one sided competition as Ava tries to siphon off of Margo's social media celebrity status, and later outdo her efforts. It's an impressive balance that has the audience laughing at Ava's seemingly desire for online validation, all whilst highlighting her genuinely good intentions to spread awareness of gun violence. Parker, the ever loyal friend, goes along with Ava, leading to hilarious commentary. The clear attempts to jump into trends for sympathy is a wonderful addition that calls out the growing desensitization that young people develop due to the constant exposure to terrible catastrophes around the world.

The show takes a sharp turn as Ava and Parker are each pushed to their wits end as the world that so desperately needs changing simply refuses to budge, causing Ava to take matters into her own hands. The dark comedy takes on a darker turn, with a thrilling few moments that has the audience holding their breath, utterly hooked by the fast unfolding drama.

Critchlow's direction ensures that the show's pacing allows for comedy and drama in equal doses, often overlapping one another without ever losing the audience. This allows for the girl's conversations to feel authentic and light hearted, whilst the undercurrents of both their mental states and agendas slip between the cracks, fueling their actions.

DeBoer as Parker does a wonderful job as the clearly traumatised teenager, who still cringes at sudden noises and movements. As she attempts to brush off the incident and bury herself in her books, both as an escape from her talkative friend Ava and to secure a future that had nearly been stolen away, DeBoer captures the spirit of a teenager trying to be brave and walk on shaky ground.

Hilton is fiery as Ava, as she talks endlessly attempting to fill the void of silence with plans and promises for a better world. Her frustration at Ron saving the day and the initial school shooting, as well as the overshadowing of the other school shooting and the almost obsession with Margo's growing following and anger at a broken system makes for a complicated spiral, coated with that of a teenager. Hilton captures this plucky spirit with a sense of authenticity, making audiences feel everything that Ava does.

The show goes through quite a lot in an hour, with several prolonged high tension moments that feel thrilling. Whilst the writing is strong throughout, the show makes its most significant breakthrough at its climax as Parker finally succumbs to the reality that Ava presents incessantly.

The Second Best School Shooting is perhaps the strongest piece of writing at this year's Fringe. Whilst it isn't quite the joy ride of wacky joy or vulnerable confessions that one would expect from a dark comedy at the Fringe, it will inevitably be a show that calls to you and stays with you. A definite must watch.

The Second Best School Shooting is playing at the Pleasance Courtyard (Baby Grand) until 30th August - tickets and more information can be found here. 

★★★★★ (5*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Andrew Perry