A Split Decision @ The Assembly Rooms

With just over a month to go until Scotland goes to vote, the Independence Referendum is a ripe subject in the headlines. By re-inventing the political dispute in a therapist's office between a Scottish man and an English woman in the midst of a tattered marriage, Keir McAllister breathes some essential comedy into the endless debate.

The cleverly written concept is perfectly suited to the venue of the Edinburgh Fringe. It certainly might not be as appealing to those who are not invested in the debate over Scottish Independence, but like most memorable plays, it completely engages with the socio-political events of the present day. It is wonderfully witty, and certainly does not lack in any suspense or entertainment. The audience will not be able to resist containing themselves upon hearing such political puns as when the austere wife (aka England) screams at her drunken husband (aka Scotland) that they are simply “better together.”

There are in fact certain points when the comedy of the Scottish Referendum becomes over-the-top simply through the sheer quantity of content within the timeframe of the play. Equally, even though the dialogue being written in verse might make the quarrel between the two parties poetic at times, it seems rather unnecessary. It would have been just as effective a political parody if it had been left aside.

It is indeed a singular opportunity to witness the balancing of humour and political insight in such a play. Perhaps a similar situation would ensue if Alex Salmond and David Cameron were ever to finally meet to discuss Independence: a pure comedic chaos.