The Pure, The Dead and The Brilliant

• Barry Cooper
• 15 August 2014

This article is from 2014.

Entertaining if simplistic caricature of a complex political problem from Alan Bissett

Set in the fairy world, Alan Bissett's script conjures some convincing characters from popular myth and legend and places them in Scotland 2014 at the heart of the campaign for independence. With Bissett's own enthusiasm for a big yes well known, this is his Fringe contribution to the theatrical debate. 

The politics protest a little too much: it is obvious from the start which way this discussion on independence is going to go. There is some real dramatic tension however, especially in the fairy parliament, a scene that brings out the best from vitriolic no campaigner and demon Black Donald as he dances around the oil and currency questions better than Salmond or Darling ever could. 

But despite the entertainment, the politics is boiled down a little too much and it becomes a battle between true Scot Bogle and the Blairesque Black Donald. As the programme says, the company is proudly partisan. However, this is not a children's show and while the writing is good, it relies on a simplistic  caricature of a complex political problem. 

Assembly Rooms, 0844 693 3008, until 24 Aug (not 18), 2.30pm, £15 (£12).