Andy McChuckemup
Andy McChuckemup, a Glasgow Property-operator's man
, is a parodic character. He represents the new breed of person flocking to the Highlands in the mid-twentieth century 鈥 the investors and speculators keen to cash in on the tourist industry in the north.
His name, and the company he represents (Crammem Inn Investments Ltd), clearly indicate the lack of care and attention that will go into their work: properties will be thrown up quickly, and tourists crammed into hotels with limited space, in order to maximise profit.
Charismatic
Although we are keenly aware of Andy鈥檚 intentions, his introduction to the play injects yet another comic burst. His opening monologue takes the form of a sales pitch, delivered in the colloquial language of the west coast lowlands.
It is obvious that Andy鈥檚 motive is to make money fast but he delivers his pitch with great energy and enthusiasm. This, combined with the humour of what he is saying, makes him an entertaining, down-to-earth, and persuasively charismatic character. This contrasts with the obnoxious Patrick Sellars and the snooty Crask and Phosphate.
Gallus
Andy鈥檚 speech and ideas are brash and he is confident of what he is saying. He invites the audience to share his grand vision for the area:
So 鈥 picture it, if yous will, right there at the top of the glen, beautiful vista 鈥 The Crammem Inn, High Rise Motorcroft [鈥 Right next door, the 鈥楩rying Scotsman鈥 All Night Chipperama
Like Lady Phosphate and Lord Crask before him, Andy shows very little awareness of Highland customs and traditions. His ideas are showy, with no thought of what is appropriate for the place or its people. This is theme park Scotland.
His plans to install drive-in clachans on every hill
and draught Drambuie for the younger set
are attempts to impose dominant American cultures, or the culture of the city, on the tranquil and underpopulated Highlands.
Savvy
Andy faces opposition from pompous Lord Vat of Glenlivet. Lord Vat proclaims (with some irony) that he harks from an ancient Scotch family
and represents the true spirit of the Highlands
.
McChuckemup is savvy enough to get round Lord Vat鈥檚 concerns. He spots his real motivation and negotiates with him accordingly:
Oh no, we weren鈥檛 planning to do it for nothing, an鈥 that 鈥 there will be plenty in it for you鈥
Andy is aware that, in the Highlands, money talks.
The dialogue between McChuckemup and Lord Vat is laced with irony. Having negotiated a cash sale, Andy states:
Our wee company anticipate about approximately about 5000 people per week coming up here for the peace and quiet and solitude 鈥 not to forget the safari park.
Such large numbers would shatter the picture of tranquillity being sold by to the tourists.
As symbolised by the character of McChuckemup, the plans of the mid-twentieth century investor are insensitive, clich茅d and lacking in any soul. In this respect, they are entirely comparable to the coming of the cheviot and the stag to the Highlands. Comparisons are also drawn between the tourist industry of the past (Victorian hunting estates) and the present situation.