Vladimir McTavish and Keir McAllister: Fringe 2012
Live Review
Stand 3 and 4

At the top of the show Vladmir McTavish and Keir McAllister note that there isn't another show on the Fringe that's about Scottish independence. Is this some kind of indication of the apathy of the Scottish nation?

Still at least McTavish and McAllister have made the effort to team up to take a look at their native land and assess its state and suitability for going it alone. Of course the pair are both familiar acts on Scotland's comedy circuit; both are regulars at The Stand who are committed to the country's scene rather than heading straight for the M6/M1 come the end of the month.

McTavish, better known to his family as Paul Sneddon, was out first, warming up the crowd with a bit of routine club commentary:  ‘I know you're all thinking that Philip Schofield's not aged well...’ before introducing his co-star, the two-time Scottish Comedian of the Year finalist, McAllister.

They create an easy banter, working well together as a double act sparking off each other's lines of albeit scripted dialogue. Some gags are derived from pretty obvious targets but enjoyable nonetheless. Alex Salmond's girth comes in for a fair amount of ribbing as does Susan Boyle face and Dumfries. But in amongst the easy slights there are some nice lines to be found: Donald Trump's attack of eco-windmills is likened to Don Quixote's and there's a tale of a heckle in a Dumfries club by a man with a false leg.

They move through the country checking on its assets – plenty of energy resources – and produce a handy questionnaire for those living outside the borders to determine if they're still Scottish. Though the whole thing could be derailed by the knottiest problem of all, who gets/wants Berwick upon Tweed?

It's an easy hour and surely it should be compulsory to see at least one genuinely home-grown comedy act who's not a just a Yank in a kilt. By the close of show they may have won around some of the Scots in the room to independence.

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Went to see show 50 greatest Scots ever It was the funniest thing i saw this year, He is very clever and i can't wait till the book comes out.....

fiona whiteford, September 2009

Just shouts like he learned his craft in a bell factory

matt, April 2009

Looks like Stanley Baxter, sounds like Stanley Baxter, material as old as Stanley Baxter. Though the 74-year old Baxter is likely still funnier than this. Loud, long sweary songs about nothing in particular, something about mother-in-laws. Topical jokes about the smoking ban, probably has material about the fall of Rome and the industrial revolution too. Though he does get some Brownie points for being particularly adept at barreling through his lines even though his jokes fall on their backside, which is something I guess. If you think you're funnier than this guy after you've had a couple of shandies, you probably are.

Gordon Cowley Jackson, January 2009

Saw Vladimir at Funny Onion last night. Fantastic, had us all laughing for 20 mins. Great stuff

Laura, September 2007

Punchlines as obvious as a giraffe at a funeral. Only not as funny.

Francis Dunne, October 2005

Superb, a great set delivered with style and quality.

Patrick Roling, October 2004

Cracking material and observations.

Airdrie, August 2004

Awful. Just awful. Made me cringe and die on the inside.

Iain Douglas, May 2004

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