Along with Central Hall Musical and the winter Pantomime, Fusion is one of the most anticipated events on the York University cultural calendar. One of the largest societies on campus, Fusion combines dance, sport and fashion to create an exhilarating creative showcase. This year’s production, Playing Games, builds upon and in many ways tops last year’s well received Twisted Tales, proving once again that York University boasts a wealth of talent.
Beginning in the toy box and travelling through playgrounds, arcades, parties and casinos, creative director Janey Stephenson displays an inventive and often surprising take on game playing. The opening number, a charming and stylised clockwork doll routine, set the tone for the evening, neatly showcasing both beautiful outfits and quirky choreography. From this cute beginning, we travelled through clever permutations on the theme, from a slick monopoly tap routine to a striking game of ballet chess. The modelling element, which can occasionally feel a little lacklustre compared to the limitlessly energetic routines, was creatively integrated throughout, with witty set pieces such as a game of Cluedo and later a pool party cleverly blurring the line between dancers and models.
It was in the playground and arcade themed sequences that the show really hit its stride with a witty Geeks and Cool Kids routine, an ingenious game of Tekken featuring Capoeira Soc, and a breathtaking Super Mario routine that was without doubt the highlight of the evening. The second act, starting with a vibrant game of twister and later a touching Love Games duet between Sarah Howell and Raymond Wade, did lose a little playfulness in the later casino based routines, but the fun Swinging Cards number provided some welcome pep and the impressively visceral Losers four hander displayed starting skill.
The performances of the entire cast showed impressive energy and enthusiasm, making it difficult to pick out standout performances. Special praise has to be directed towards an impressive technical team who carried off complex light and sound effects almost faultlessly throughout the evening and to Dylan De Buitlear for co-ordinating a slick soundtrack. When the entire cast flooded the stage during an enjoyably ramshackle finale, accompanied by a live band, it provided an uplifting conclusion to an entertaining evening. President Fiona Lavelle should congratulate herself on a game well played.
Totally agree with all said here!
Whilst I don’t doubt that Fusion was a tremendous amount of work, raised money for charity and was in general well-constructed, you’ve got to question the point of articles like these. Every single year, we get a ‘review’ like this one doing little except saying how everything was perfect. The result is that you might as well not have written the article, because we still have no idea if it was any good.
Let’s look at the adjectives used: exhilarating, well-received, beautiful, quirky, stylised, clever, slick, creative, witty, ingenious, breathtaking, vibrant, touching. Etc. And there’s always the token slight criticism that doesn’t mention anyone in particular because you don’t want to cause offense but you include anyway because you want it to at least read like you’re offering a balanced view.
Fusion might well have been amazing, and you can clearly write. Just I think the cast and crew – as well as people who didn’t get to see it – would quite like the occasional review that actually tells us something. A particular costume that stood out? Other than being ‘touching’, why was the duet so great? How could the show have been improved?
Well ex-cah-youuuse ME “Anonymous”, if that even is your real name.
I, Princess Von Marshmallow, was myself fortunate enough to be sat in the front row of the gala opening of Fusion: Playing Games. As a BROC (Big Royal on Campus) and general gal about town I personally, in my well considered opinion, thought the show to be exhilarating, well-received, beautiful, quirky, stylised, clever, slick, creative, witty, ingenious, breathtaking, vibrant, touching. Etc. So imagine my delight when I found this review!
Have you ever stopped to consider that the show actually was “exhilarating, well-received, beautiful, quirky, stylised, clever, slick, creative, witty, ingenious, breathtaking, vibrant, touching. Etc.”?
You, to me, sound like a negative ninny! As my handsome and esteemed mother, Princess Von Candyfloss, always said, “If you haven’t got anything nice to say, write for Nouse.”
Love, rainbows and puppy dogs tails.
HRH Princess Von Marshmallow OBE MBE AKA BRB
Watching fusion is like being fucked up the arse, at first you think it could be a fun thing to do but after painfully being put through it, you will never want to do it again.
Very strange article, This doesn’t sound like a University festival. There are much more interesting things to do. It is presented like some kind of art but I doubt that this can be a interesting topic for young people, when is presented in such strange way.
Thanks,
GLadys
seemed it’s all just to have fun.