Company: Morgan Cranny, Victoria

Genre: Play — Comedy

Venue: 22 — MTYP (Richardson Hall)

Ethnicity-based comedy created by those not of that ethnicity seems to be at a crossroads. While a white comic performing as a visible minority is now properly verboten, cross cultural mockery — especially when done in good taste — still sits on the comedy shelf. But perhaps, with a looming expiry date.

Morgan Cranny — who is definitely not Russian — does an impressive job convincing us otherwise. His non-specific Russian accent is consistent and not laid on too thick. His large physical build and stiff demeanour play into various Politburo-era clichés.

Since Russian President Vladimir Putin went nostalgic for the "glory" of the former Soviet Union, here in the West, a Glasnost era of old school Cold War jokes has come upon us. Jokes which apply just as well to today's Russian Federation.

Vasily Djokavich is a nesting doll of clichés. However, and it's a big however, Cranny (along with Fringe staple Mike Delamont) has created a pretty compelling two-dimensional comedy confection.

By the end of the show, Djokavich seems like a real guy: pathetic sometimes even gets to pathos. Such is Cranny's commitment that when an audience volunteer, a charming woman, almost stole the show, Vasily kept his Soviet scowl intact.

Like the Russia presented in this fast one hour show, there are many shortages but what is in bountiful supply are laughs.

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