FirstWord JO CLIFFORD
One of Scotland’s most successful playwrights Jo Clifford has spent a lifetime kicking against trends. Here the incurable romantic discusses going on a date to see Death in Venice, spending her pocket money on Beethoven’sFifthand running screaming out of Oklahoma First record you ever bought Beethoven’s Fifth. I was in my horrible school uniform and felt very small. And very scared to go into the shop. But the man in the shop took me so seriously, and was kind. I still have that record.
First film you saw that really moved you Oklahoma. I was just a little boy and had to be taken out of the cinema screaming. (The nightmare scene had scared me). Last lie you told I never tell lies. (When I typed that last line).
First movie you ever went on a date to Death in Venice. (I was never romantic that way).
Last time you cried Ten minutes ago when my lover left. First thing you do when you’ve got time off work Cook.
Last great meal you cooked Stuffed pierogi (cream cheese dumplings stuffed with mushrooms). They were blissfully gorgeous: not, however, as blissfully gorgeous as the person I cooked them for.
Last extravagant purchase you made A huge and beautiful painting by Helen Jackson for my living room wall. First crush A girl called Melanie who I so wanted to be.
Last book you read Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse.
First great piece of advice you were given ‘Never do what you should. Do what you truly desire.’ (Winifred Rushforth). Last time you were star struck I don’t get star struck.
First thing you’d do if you ran the country Scrap Trident: use the money to improve social justice; create a sustainable economy; support the arts. And a million other things besides. Last meal on earth – what would it be A glass of pure water.
First song you’ll sing at karaoke I’ll never sing anything at karaoke. Ever. Last time you exploited your position to get something My daughter lost her job as an usher in the Traverse. This was years ago. I used my name to get her reinstated.
WeLike The things making our world just that little bit better
First time you realised you were famous I haven’t really had that moment yet. And it’s all a bit beside the point. The point is to be able to go on writing. Last time someone criticised your work I expect half a minute ago.
Bristol. The boarding school teacher who organised these outings saved my life. Last time you bought someone flowers I don’t want to tell you. But the Lyceum bought me some LOVELY ones for my birthday.
First three words your friends would use to describe you I don’t know: but I hope they’d be nice. First thing you think of when you wake up in the morning The one I love.
Last time you made an impulse buy and regretted it A dress I thought was gorgeous. But wasn’t. First concert you ever attended Beethoven’s Fifth: at the Colston Hall,
Last thing you think of before you go to sleep As above. And forever. ■ Jo Clifford’s play Every One is on at the Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh, until Sat 3 Apr. See review, page 83.
■ There’s been a whole lot of watching going on amongst us Listers. Besides watching the crocuses (sorry, croci) appearing as winter slides into spring, we’ve
also been watching a fair few music videos. Yeasayer’s video for ‘O.N.E’ (tiny.cc/w8txn) has a touch of the Bladerunner
rave about it, or maybe Total Recall with more men in
pink lipstick? Then there’s Vitalic’s peeping Tom video for ‘Second Lives’ (tiny.cc/izcpq), set entirely in a toilet cubicle. The ice-cool trailer for Tron Legacy(tiny.cc/t925x) featuring music by Daft Punk and the ever- awesome Mr Jeff Bridges also seems like something we expect to like very much, when the sci-fi remake finally drops in December. After making ourselves feel a bit creepy
by watching a man suck face with a dog, we then flipped over the new Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti single over to watch a girl kissing a cat. Thankfully, there was comfort – and several hours worth of time-wasting entertainment – to be found at www.flightradar24.com. The live website that lets you watch planes crossing Europe. Geeky, but oddly mesmerising.
2 THE LIST 1–15 Apr 2010