ASK A SILLY QUESTION
Robert Dawson Scott pursues Scottish Trivia.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the importance of an event is in inverse proportion to the public relations ballyhoo which surrounds it. Thus the launch ofthe Scottish version ofthat traditional parlour game Trivial Pursuit. specifically designed to give the upwardly mobile pub bore from I-Iaslemere something to do when he visits Scotland. was attended last week by a media event of Bacchanalian proportions featuring piping. poetry. haggis ’n' neeps and the inevitable rcnt-a-celebrity. The 1000 new Scottish questions which have been added to the basic game are testing stuff. In the entertainment section we find 'What tartan comes in a tin‘."
Devising special games for special interest groups could ofcourse go too far. Can we expect the Kirk o‘ Shotts version if the more generalised version proves too taxing‘.’ ()r perhaps the Trivial Pursuit Trivial Pursuit. History- What question had the wrong answer attached to it in the Baby Boomer version of 1985‘? Art and Literature — Do we care'.’ The Scottish version could just as well have been called the Jimmy Reid version since he seems to be the answer to most of the questions. Just as well be wasn't the guest celebrity playing the demonstration game. The people who were playing it were a rum lot; a couple of footballers. a clergyman
WIN!
The List has two editions olthe new Scottish version of Trivial Pursuit to give away as prizes. All you need to do is answer the trivial questions below, till in the lorm and post it. The llrst two correct entries opened on Saturday 14 March will be sent the game.
2 The List 6 — 19 March
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and a sports commentator. none of them remotely qualified. Where was the reigning Superscot champion? (The programme’s producer was there. alright. nicking all the questions). But ofcourse this is the territory ofthe instant pundit. Become a little bit famous for one thing and people will immediately start asking you to comment on anything except the thing you‘re supposed to be good at. Isa rock star going to be any more sensible than the rest of the young people they persistently patronise‘.’ Not likely: if anything. they are likely to be rather more screwed-up than average. with all that cash floating around and everyone telling them how wonderful they are every five minutes. But sell a few records and people assume you are fit to pronounce on anything from epidemiology to Erasmus. And have you seen anyone who has actually got the disease appearing on these countless AIDS offerings on TV. No chance; they might actually know something about it.
What we need are more video boxes. with tapes to take home. where we can all go and get an instant pundit fix. That way we can all do it. like deep down we want to (cfany bar on a Friday night) without having to be good at anything else first. You wouldn‘t even have to be good at Trivial Pursuit. a modest enought achievement. God knows. Become a master of the instant opinion. unburdened by any knowledge ofyour subject. View fact with suspicion. Above all. never seek to know what other people are doing on your behalf and you are well on the road for the top job for no-knowledge pundits. Yep. you guessed it; President of the USA.
To The List Trivial Pursuit, 14 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TE.
1. What is the Scottish equivalent of the English Attorney General?
Answer .................................... ..
2. Who was known as the bard ol Ayrshire?
Answer .................................... .. 3. Which ear can most people hear betterwith?
Answer .................................... ..
Name ...................................... .. Address ................................... ..
NASICAL CARRY-OUTS
How to get carried away with the Scottish National Orchestra. . . The record sleeve designs lorthe SNO's recordings of the Prokoliev cycle (conducted by Neeme Jarvi), based by designerJemima Schlee on the
abstract works of Russian painter Kasimir Malevich, have justbeen made up into carrier bags. Not ol course that we need to be surprised by this meeting at art and music. The Boilerhouse, London‘s trendy design gallery, had a whole exhibition devoted to carrier bags— and they were only paperones. The SNO variety (in lull colour) are made from PVC-coated cloth and cost £3.80, but are bound to be at incalculable value to your average classical music lover. As well as 101 good uses, on one side at the bag you get Prokoliev’s Sixth Symphony (the recording olwhich won a Gramophone Record Award in 1985) and on the flip side the design lorthe Third and Fourth. The bags will be available at 8N0 concerts (and may be swung in time to the music) or by mail order (£4.30 inc postage and packing) lrom 8N0 Promotions, 3 La Belle Place, Glasgow G3 7LH.
AIDS AID
April 3 has been declared International Aids I)ay t the idea came from the Pasteur Institute in Paris). 'I‘hroughout the l'nitcd Kingdom large-scale events are being organised around this daon focus awareness on A II)S and raise funds towards research and care for those afflicted with the disease.
In Scotland Scottish Aids Action begins on 3 April: an impressive series of events organised and supported by SAM (Scottish Aids Monitor). Regular Mtisic and The ('ul. Scotland's music magazine. Money raised from the events will go towards opening a hospice in the l.otliian area for Aids patients and running the counselling and advisory service ofSAM. Iivcnts — not fully confirmed. btit see next issue for full details— include:
o Gala Concert. t'sher l Iall. Iidinburgh. 3 April. Artists appearing include the (‘ommunards 'l‘hc \Vatcrboys. (‘lare (irogan and The Merry Mac I-‘un (‘o and possibly love and Money. Billy Mackenzie. Paul I laig. I lipsway and Win (Io be confirmed. as many of these artists have agreed to appear at eitheror both this concert and the party at the Assembly Rooms. see below). 'l'ickets(£10& {Mon sale from Sat 7 Marat L'sher I Iall Box Office.
Virgin. Ripping Records and throughout Scotland at tisual agents. also from Regular Mtisic. PO Box 77. Ilead Post Office. Iidinburgh (Send SAIL).
0 Party Assembly Rooms. Iidinburgh. 2 April. lipmA-Jam (after concert). I.ive appearances from lnusic. cabaret and theatre groups (including \Vildcat ). local I)Js and many other groups (see above). Tickets ( £3) available from
sainc outlets as for concert. Associated l'.\ cnts throughout the week include: 0 Glasgow Fashion/Club Party 1 April. 0 Cinema Event. (’amco ('inema. Iidinburgh late niglitscrcenings. 0 Student Events including lidinbttrgh and Strathclydc l7nivcrsity Dances. 0 Special Nights at many nightclubs and pubs. including ’l‘exas(‘lub. The l looch. Iidinburgh. who are to donate their door takingson 4 April. Scouts/I .‘lftlS .l/(milnrg (HI 5573885. [II/(‘I'Iltllftnltl/ slirls Day: (II ZN}.th Nationwide Events include: 0 Major UK Concert \Vernbley Arena. 1 April (line-up includcs(icorge Michael). 0 ‘The Biggest Party in the World‘ event at l’addington Station. London. 0 Fashion Cares: major fashion stores selling designer t-shirts signed by the world's leading fashion designers 0 Music Cares: major t‘K retail outlets to donate a percentage of theirsaleson selected days. 0 Double LP of Dance Remixes to be issued. . Channel 4 to tclcyisc \chblcy ('onccrt in summer also its first ever 'l‘clelhon. with live artists and phone bids to request specific \‘itleos‘.
UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE The Scottish Student Drama I’estival has now established itselfas a fixture in the calendar l sec 'l'hcatrc pages for report ). But this year‘s festival has been especially significant. marking the launch ofa new phenomenon: the Scottiin Student 'l‘heatrc (‘ompany . The idea behind the company is to extend and build on the spirit and crcativ c forum of the SSDI". allowing students from all over Scotland the opportunity to work together on a proiect under professional supervision and to tour