The Story of Fool’s Errand

The sketch comedy group is better than they expected

By Macie Rasmussen

These days, it’s hard to admit that pain, isolation, and fear are running higher than usual. Many people say humor is a way to cope with unsettling situations or cultivate optimism. Most agree it’s beneficial for one’s health, heart, soul… or whatever form of wellness you subscribe to. 

That brings me to the definition of a phrase I just googled. Fool’s errand: “a task or activity that has no hope of success.” A different kind of fool’s errand exists as a sketch comedy group. Started by a handful of students at the University of Minnesota, and first performing in November of 2018, Fool’s Errand’s members consist mostly of undergraduate students. (But it’s not exclusively college students!)

The first time I saw their act, I sat in a sea of chairs nestled in the back of Dinkytown’s Purple Onion. The corner of the coffee shop buzzed with chatter as I squeezed past rows of people to where a friend had saved me a seat. I distinctly remember laughing during a skit in which a member assumed the role of a janitor. The fact that I can recall a specific scene says something about the idiosyncratic nature of their performance.

While Fool’s Errand’s home is usually at Purple Onion every other Friday, the group has performed in multiple locations: Honey in Minneapolis, Black Dog Cafe, Mixed Blood Theater, The Comedy Corner Bar, The Whole, Rarig Center, and even the basement of a house in the Como neighborhood. 

Henry Kueppers, one of the founding members, did improv in high school and had been a part of Minnprov and Minnesota Long Form Improv at the U. He decided to form this new group by gathering four friends and brainstorming ideas for content, venues, and promotion. One of those friends was Meredith Oechler. She jokes, “I'm mostly the ‘hot one’ of the group. So, I tend to play the sexy waitress, the lonely single mom, the flirty secretary, you name it.” On the other hand, Kueppers says his humor is based in “going with the flow.” He says, “I'm able to bounce ideas and riff with everyone in the group and contribute in any way that is needed.” 

To prepare for shows, the group meets to pitch skit ideas, suggest edits, cast each of them, and then generate a setlist. They’ll meet one or two more times to rehearse before a show. Kueppers strives to brighten people’s days, and he especially appreciates that he gets to do it with his closest friends. He says, “My favorite part is going to shows and looking out into the crowd and realizing that I hardly know anyone out there. It's gratifying to see people bring their friends to our show.”

Evey performing act comes with challenges, and it’s hard for people to put themselves out there again after they bomb. Oechler describes a performance during the “Discover Dinkytown” event in which “the audience consisted of Henry's parents, his brother and his brother's friends, and a random couple in their 30s with two toddlers. I'm pretty sure we performed to silence for 30 minutes, but what felt like three hours.” Of course, they persisted! 

So what’s next for the group? Kueppers would like to see the group grow its digital presence by capturing more of its sketches and uploading them to its social media platforms. That way, those who can’t make it to live shows can still enjoy their work remotely. While they’re having fun on stage, these members hope that amusement spreads to the audience. “I love just doing what we're doing: making people laugh and having fun,” says Oechler.

A fool’s errand may be a practical joke that results in a pointless endeavor, but Fool’s Errand has manifested a talented act in the Minneapolis’ comedy community with momentum. Oechler and Kueppers agree that their troupe can be summarized as “Fool’s Errand: Better than we expected.”  

If you want to know more about the group or see some of their shenanigans for yourself, you can find them on Instagram @foolserrandcomedy and on Youtube as Fool’s Errand. We all deserve a laugh right now.