SCOTLAND LAUGHS

Scotland has grown a very healthy crop of comedians, greatly tickling the funny-bones of the locals, but since much of their humour revolves around their language, impenetrable Scots accents and very odd syntax, their appeal often did not stretch to an English audience. Well, bad luck on those English who have not taken the trouble to attune themselves to lilting or raucous Caledonian intonation, as they are missing many a laugh.

Perhaps the most talented of the post-war generation was Stanley Baxter (1926- ), happily still with us. His TV show made him a British star, his outrageous outfits and deadly accurate impersonations were hilarious.

Stanley as Her Majesty

Stanley Baxter as Himself

Stanley tried manfully to educate the non-Scots audience as he politely presided over the TV language class Parliamo Glasgow explaining the meaning of common Glasgow expressions; thus “Whissamattamurra?” (What’s the matter, mother?) “A’mfairstappit” (I have eaten sufficiently) or

“swannakickyeupthejaxi”  (I want to assist you to leave).

At one stage Stanley was partnered by Jimmy Logan (1926-2001) in the long-running series of revues called Five past Eight, which toured the leading Scottish theatres for many years. Jimmy came from a well-known theatrical family with Aunt, Mother, Father and siblings treading the boards. Jimmy first performed when he was 12 and was active for the next 60 years. 

Jimmy Logan

His career had its ups and downs – he was 4 times married – and his attempt to be an impresario himself ended in expensive failure. Yet he bounced back, his comic patter was highly amusing with his catchphrases “sausages is the boys!” and “If you want me thingummy, ring me”; he was much treasured.

From the same generation came gravelly-voiced but very droll Rikki Fulton (1924-2004). He initially found fame in pantomime at the Glasgow Alhambra in 1956, but he had acted in rep and with his slicked-back hair and hooded eyes he was a sinisterly effective “heavy”. He really struck gold in 1958 when he started his Francie and Josie cross-talking act with Jack Milroy (1915-2001) in riotous Glaswegian patois. Then he made us laugh with Scotch and Wry and latterly he enlivened many a Hogmanay TV show as the Rev I M Jolly with his lugubrious cod Thought for the New Year.

Rikki Fulton as the Rev I M Jolly

All the above comedians hailed from Glasgow, a fertile nursery for funny men, but the North East had its comics too. Harry Gordon (1893-1957), known as The Laird of Inversnecky, a wholly fictitious location based on Banchory, built up a loyal following in Aberdeen, packing out the Beach Pavilion, the Tivoli and His Majesty’s Theatre for a generation. He often told his jokes in broad Doric, the dialect of the North East, singing all manner of comic songs like The Auldest Aiberdonian

Aberdeen's Harry Gordon

Rather later, Andy Stewart (1933-93), a native of Arbroath, ploughed the same furrow. He was a national Scots star, much in evidence at Hogmanay singing on TV the likes of Donald, Where’s your Troosers but I reckon he was most in his element in the 1960-70s at our then family-owned His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen as a “Buchan Loon”, a farm labourer, outwitting the townies, declaiming wildly in broad Doric too and singing with infectious energy The Muckin o’ Geordie’s Byre.

A young Andy Stewart

Certain theatres were associated with the resident comic. Risqué Lex McLean’s (1908-75) seasons at the Pavilion,Glasgow drew large crowds and raucous Johnny Victory was the toast of Dundee, packing them out at the Palace. I enjoyed Chaplinesque Dave Willis, a Glaswegian, at the Beach Pavilion Aberdeen during the 1950s and another veteran Glasgow comic was Jack Radcliffe. A famous sketch saw Jack on his death-bed being tended by his wife who asked him pitifully if he had one final wish. “Aye, Jessie, I’d like to have a slice of that lovely ham on the side-board.” No, Jack, you canna have that” was her reply “We’re keeping it for the funeral!”

Rab Nesbitt tempted by Jamesie Cotter

Scots comedy lives on lustily for a rather younger generation. Hugely enjoyable is the TV sit-com Rab C Nesbitt played wonderfully well by Gregor Fisher with his string vest, scruffy headband and booze-slurred speech. His recent philosophical take on the independence debate was the question “Is it any better to be marginalised by Holyrood than by Westminster?” Rab is well fortified by his self-proclaimed “scumbag” friend Jamesie Cotter (Tony Roper), whose own wife describes him as "a slippery-lookin' article, about 93-year-old, wearing crusty jeans, with the eyes of an unemployed rapist". Rab’s long-suffering wife Mary-Doll (Elaine C Smith) is always charmed into forgiving Rab after his many scrapes. The whole show is a brilliant creation.

Ronnie Corbett of The Two Ronnies fame is a very comic veteran Scotsman from Edinburgh but he has seldom performed in Scotland itself and so I will not feature him here. No piece about Scottish comedians would be complete without giving a big place to Billy Connolly, now 71, who became a comedian after working in the Glasgow shipyards and forming a folk-singing duo. His performances and his CDs have been a sell-out in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and now in the USA. His act is a high energy one with funny walks, vulgar (many profusely illustrated jokes about farts), scabrous and in doubtful taste (those suffering from prostate problems should avert their eyes), foul-mouthed but it is all delivered with highly entertaining aplomb triumphing over often initially horrified audiences. Slowing down now, he remains a national treasure, continuing the proud heritage of Laughter in Scotland.

The Big Yin, Billy Connolly

SMD

24.01.14
Copyright Sidney Donald 2014