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All About "Flower Drum Song" Trivia Quiz

All about Rodgers and Hammerstein's eighth musical play.

A multiple-choice quiz by dmnemaine. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
dmnemaine

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
274,834

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
10 / 20

Plays
317

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. In what year did "Flower Drum Song" open on Broadway? Hint

1957

1958

1959

1956

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Question 2 of 20

2. In the song "You Are Beautiful", what river valley does the singer see the flower boat in? Hint

the Tiber

the Yangtze

the Hwang Ho (Yellow)

the Don

3. "A Hundred Million Miracles" is heard numerous times throughout the play. The first time it is sung, Dr. Li and his daughter, Mei Li, have just been introduced to Wang Chi-Yang and his sister-in-law, Madam Liang. According to the song, the wind comes blowing and the sky falls down how? Hint

like a jiggly juggler

like a punchy puppet

like a clumsy clown

like a silly sailor

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Question 4 of 20

4. According to Linda Low in "I Enjoy Being A Girl", what is she wearing when she hears "a complimentary whistle"? Hint

a bikini

a pair of pants

a dress

a skirt

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Question 5 of 20

5. The second time we hear "A Hundred Million Miracles", Mei Li sings it while she is doing something for Master Wang. What is it that she does for him? Hint

washes his clothes

just sings to him

beats his back

brings him his food

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Question 6 of 20

6. In the song "I Am Going To Like It Here", why does Mei Li say that she "loves the place"? Hint

because of Master Wang himself

because of Wang San, the father's second son

because of Wang Ta, the father's first son

because of Madam Liang, who is kind to her

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Question 7 of 20

7. According to the song, "Like A God", what does Wang Ta have in his hand? Hint

a river

nothing

a valley

a mountain

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Question 8 of 20

8. After Ta sings "Like A God", Mei Li sings yet another reprise of "A Hundred Million Miracles". Why does she sing it? Hint

She likes to sing about miracles.

Sammy Fong is falling in love with her.

Wang San asks her to.

She thinks that Ta is finally noticing her.

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Question 9 of 20

9. In the song "Chop Suey", there is a very brief dance (it was much longer in the film version). What kind of dance is it? Hint

a tango

a rhumba

a cha-cha

a Chinese folk dance

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Question 10 of 20

10. Wang San and Linda Low sing a short bit called "Jazz Bit". Which of the following is NOT a line in the bit? Hint

"You be the rock. I'll be the roll."

"You be the heiress. I'll be the stole."

"You be the soup. I'll be the bowl."

"You be the furnace, I'll be the coal."

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Question 11 of 20

11. When Mei Li hears about Ta's plans to marry Linda Low, she turns to Sammy Fong, who she is supposed to marry anyway. Sammy sings, "Don't Marry Me". According to the song, what does Sammy eat in bed? Hint

litchie nuts and cookies

betel nuts and cookies

litchie nuts and crackers

betel nuts and crackers

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Question 12 of 20

12. According to "Grant Avenue", what two things can you eat on Grant Avenue? Hint

shark fin soup and bean cake fish

shark fin soup and egg foo yung

won ton soup and bean cake fish

won ton soup and egg foo yung

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Question 13 of 20

13. In the song "Love, Look Away", what does Helen Chao do when Wang Ta goes? Hint

shies too much

tries too much

cries too much

pries too much

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Question 14 of 20

14. What is the name of the man that Fan Tan Fanny is leaving? Hint

Timmy

Manny

Danny

Sammy

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Question 15 of 20

15. In the song "Gliding Through My Memoree", quite a few nationalities are named. What is the correct order they are mentioned in the song? Hint

Swedish, Spanish, Moroccan, Dutch, Irish, English, French, Grecian

Dutch, Grecian, Moroccan, French, Spanish, English, Swedish, Irish

Spanish, Dutch, English, Grecian, Swedish, Moroccan, Irish, French

Irish, Swedish, English, Spanish, French, Moroccan, Grecian, Dutch

NEXT>

Question 16 of 20

16. Act II opens with a dream ballet. Whose dream is it? Hint

Helen's

Ta's

Mei Li's

Linda's

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Question 17 of 20

17. In "The Other Generation", Master Wang and Madam Liang are frustrated with Wang Ta and Wang San. What do they finally wish on them at the end of the song? Hint

that they get married and leave home

that they have better behaved children

that their children give them hell

that they don't have any children

NEXT>

Question 18 of 20

18. What day of the week do Sammy and Linda sing about after Sammy proposes to Linda? Hint

Monday

Friday

Tuesday

Sunday

NEXT>

Question 19 of 20

19. The kids make fun of the games that the adults played when they were children in their reprise of "The Other Generation". What do the kids call the adults at the end of the song? Hint

a square mob

a wacky group

a boring bunch

a droopy crowd

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Question 20 of 20

20. How does Mei Li get out of marrying Sammy? Hint

she admits that she's in America illegally

she elopes with Ta

she simply refuses to marry him

she tells Sammy's mother off

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In what year did "Flower Drum Song" open on Broadway?

Answer: 1958

"Flower Drum Song" is based on C.Y. Lee's novel, "The Flower Drum Song", about the Chinese in San Francisco's Chinatown.

2. In the song "You Are Beautiful", what river valley does the singer see the flower boat in?

Answer: the Hwang Ho (Yellow)

"Hwang Ho" was a Westernization of Huang He, the second longest river in China. It is also known as the Yellow River. It is called the Yellow River because of the yellowish color caused by the muddy water in the lower part of the river. (Information taken from Wikipedia)

Answer: like a clumsy clown

Mei Li and her father have just arrived in San Francisco from Hong Kong. She is supposed to be Sammy Fong's picture bride, but he decides to give her to Wang Chi-Yang, who wants a suitable bride for his son, Wang Ta.

4. According to Linda Low in "I Enjoy Being A Girl", what is she wearing when she hears "a complimentary whistle"?

Answer: a bikini

Linda Low is Sammy's girlfriend. She is completely American, and the total opposite of Mei Li. She goes after Wang Ta for two reasons -- to make Sammy jealous, and the Wang money.

5. The second time we hear "A Hundred Million Miracles", Mei Li sings it while she is doing something for Master Wang. What is it that she does for him?

Answer: beats his back

Master Wang has a "cough" that comes up whenever he doesn't get his own way. Mei Li's back beating is supposed good for the cough.

6. In the song "I Am Going To Like It Here", why does Mei Li say that she "loves the place"?

Answer: because of Wang Ta, the father's first son

Mei Li meets Wang Ta, and it is love at first sight -- for Mei Li anyway. Ta has himself involved with Linda Low, and isn't thinking about Mei Li.

7. According to the song, "Like A God", what does Wang Ta have in his hand?

Answer: a mountain

Wang Ta was originally played on stage by Ed Kenney, a Hawaiian actor.

8. After Ta sings "Like A God", Mei Li sings yet another reprise of "A Hundred Million Miracles". Why does she sing it?

Answer: She thinks that Ta is finally noticing her.

Mei Li was originally played by Miyoshi Umeki, who reprised her role for the film version in 1961. Umeki is probably best known for her portrayal of Mrs. Livingston on the television series "The Courtship of Eddie's Father".

9. In the song "Chop Suey", there is a very brief dance (it was much longer in the film version). What kind of dance is it?

Answer: a cha-cha

Wang San sings the line, "Dreaming in my Maiden Form Bra, Dreamed I danced the cha-cha-cha".

10. Wang San and Linda Low sing a short bit called "Jazz Bit". Which of the following is NOT a line in the bit?

Answer: "You be the heiress. I'll be the stole."

Linda Low was played in the original production by Japanese actress and singer, Pat Suzuki.

Answer: litchie nuts and cookies

Sammy Fong was originally played on Broadway by Larry Blyden, a white actor.

12. According to "Grant Avenue", what two things can you eat on Grant Avenue?

Answer: shark fin soup and bean cake fish

Shark fin soup is a Cantonese cuisine delicacy commonly served as part of a Chinese feast, usually at special occasions such as weddings and banquets as a symbol of wealth and prestige. (from Wikipedia)

I haven't been able to find any information on "bean cake fish". I did find mentions of "yellow bean cake", but not sure if that's the same thing.

13. In the song "Love, Look Away", what does Helen Chao do when Wang Ta goes?

Answer: cries too much

Helen Chao, along with Mei Li and Linda Low, also has a thing for Wang Ta. Popular guy!

14. What is the name of the man that Fan Tan Fanny is leaving?

Answer: Danny

In the film version of "Flower Drum Song", this number was given to Linda Low. Onstage, it was sung by an unnamed nightclub singer.

15. In the song "Gliding Through My Memoree", quite a few nationalities are named. What is the correct order they are mentioned in the song?

Answer: Irish, Swedish, English, Spanish, French, Moroccan, Grecian, Dutch

During the nightclub sequence, Linda Low does a strip tease, not realizing that the Wang family is in the audience.

16. Act II opens with a dream ballet. Whose dream is it?

Answer: Ta's

After Ta's disillusionment with Linda, he spends the night with Helen Chao, and dreams of being torn between Linda and Mei Li.

17. In "The Other Generation", Master Wang and Madam Liang are frustrated with Wang Ta and Wang San. What do they finally wish on them at the end of the song?

Answer: that their children give them hell

Wang Chi-Yang was originally played on Broadway by Keye Luke, best known for playing the Number One Son in several Charlie Chan films.

Madam Liang was originally played by Juanita Hall, who had previously played Bloody Mary in R&H's "South Pacific". Hall reprised the role in the 1961 film version of "Flower Drum Song".

18. What day of the week do Sammy and Linda sing about after Sammy proposes to Linda?

Answer: Sunday

Sammy wants to marry Linda, and Mei Li wants to marry Ta, but Sammy and Mei Li have to marry each other because of the contract between Mei Li's father and Sammy's mother.

19. The kids make fun of the games that the adults played when they were children in their reprise of "The Other Generation". What do the kids call the adults at the end of the song?

Answer: a droopy crowd

Wang San and the other kids try to help figure out a way to sort things out.

20. How does Mei Li get out of marrying Sammy?

Answer: she admits that she's in America illegally

Mei Li gets the "wetback" idea from watching television.

Source: Author dmnemaine

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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