Photos: Tommy Ga-Ken Wan
Dundee Rep Theatre, April 4th,2026.
Who better than Johnny McKnight, Scotland’s first dame of Pantoland and legendary comedy writer, to team up with Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson to pen this late capitalist airline romp? Naebody, that’s who.
This comedic menage a trois, adapting the fictional Air Scotia, come with some strings attached, if extra baggage: it starts as an extremely meta meditation on the ageing process and their sitcom characters’ limitations. This is after all, a knowing spin-off of the mid nineties cult classic. A shame McKnight doesn’t get a character onstage, but his introductory voiceover’s hilarious.
Halfway through, any semblance of poignant narrative is dispensed with for a jolly, cartoonish melee which scrutinises takeover bids and the Scottish cringe, as Sebastian Flight (Cumming) and Steve McCracken (Masson) tussle with modernity creeping into a well -loved format. “Gasp!”
What’s more, former lager tin sweetheart Heather Argyll (Louise McCarthy) threatens the cabin crew duo’s enmeshed friendship by causing some romantic turbulence.”Double gasp!”
It’s uproarious stuff all right, directed with manic energy by Andrew Panton. Cumming and Masson are a riot, the whole ensemble excellent, and McCarthy brings unhinged glamour to proceedings.Colin Richmond’s designs are like technicolour acid trips. Some of the filthy songs are eye-wateringly funny, bolstered by co-star Rachael Kendall Brown’s gorgeous singing voice. Her chronically online Kylie character gets some zingers in too.
Not all the jokes land, and the second half is a little unwieldy, but the witty wordplay, skewering of pop culture and general campy ridiculousness from all involved mean it’s worth the extra air miles.
Touring throughout Scotland until May 23rd.
Hit The North 