EDINBURGH 2014 - BWW Reviews: THE PURE, THE DEAD AND THE BRILLIANT, Assembly Rooms, August 4 2014

In the Scottish independence referendum debate, the No campaign famously published 500 questions they felt had not been answered about independence, causing a twitter backlash as those favouring Yes suggested more than a few facetious questions of their own. But there was one question neither side tried to raise - what would the consequences of independence be on the fairies and mythological creatures of Scotland?

That's the subject of this new play from Alan Bissett, celebrated Scottish writer and sometimes political commentator. In The Pure, The Dead and The Brilliant, a bogle, a banshee, a selkie and a demon meet for a drink at New Year and the subject of independence arises. Would independence result in doom for the fairy folk as a free Scotland stops relying on its ancient mythologies and starts living in the present? Or would staying in the United Kingdom have its own dire consequences for the magical creatures?

This is all explored in broad variety-style comedy featuring Paul James Corrigan as Bogle, a gallus Buttons-esque figure in a kilt, Michele Gallagher as a slinky and glamourous selkie, and much-loved Scots comedienne Elaine C Smith as a moaning old banshee. The star turn however has to be Martin McCormick as the sinister Black Donald, a demon who finds victory in Scottish failure. His speech against independence to the fairy parliament was a phenomenal parody, brilliantly delivered, of the entire No campaign strategy, while his anglified accent subtly underscored the distance between the establishment figures he represented and the other ordinary Scots characters.

The show makes no apology for having an opinion on Scottish independence, demonstrating one of the great things about theatre - that it can take a stand on issues where other forms of media feel the need for enforced neutrality, and prove that passion is not a vice. It's not all a simplistic take on the issue either, acknowledging Scotland's own dark ghosts of colonialism and emphasising that independence would no doubt not always be plain sailing, even if the play finds it the preferable option in comparison to current constitutional arrangements.

Whether it will convince or even attract any undecided voters remains to be seen, however it was thoroughly enjoyed by a laughing audience jampacked into every nook and cranny of the Assembly Rooms venue, proving an excellent counter to the Edinburgh International Festival's decision last year not to invite work inspired by the referendum to their festival. National identity and theatre have so often sat side by side, with suchi illustrious examples as W.B. Yeats and Henrik Ibsen, so there is no reason theatre in the Scottish capital mere weeks before an historic moment should not also engage with the real issues of the age.

Witty, entertaining and fiercely relevant, The Pure, The Dead And The Brilliant will take you away with the fairies all the way to the ballot box.

The Pure, The Dead And The Brilliant runs at 2.30pm each day at the Assembly Rooms until August 24th (not 18th)

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