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The Roar of the Greasepaint Trivia Quiz

The full name of the play is, "The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd". This was a wonderful quirky musical that played in New York and Philadelphia in 1965. If you've seen or read the play, this quiz should be easy.

A multiple-choice quiz by austinnene. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
austinnene

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
276,831

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
176

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What English actor collaborated on the songs, wrote, directed, and starred in the original production of the play on Broadway? Hint

Anthony Newley

Peter O'Toole

Richard Burton

Cyril Ritchard

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Question 2 of 10

2. What was the "message" of the play? Hint

Love conquers all.

The little guy can triumph over the corrupt and powerful.

The love of money is the root of all evil.

Daily prayer and religious faith gives one the strength to withstand any challenge.

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Question 3 of 10

3. In the original 1965 Broadway production, who played the lead opposite the play's author? Hint

Richard Burton

Lionel Barrymore

Richard Harris

Cyril Ritchard

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Question 4 of 10

4. What was the stage set for the play? Hint

An street in London of indeterminate character.

A crowded marketplace.

The exterior yard of a magnificent palace.

A spiral trail of spaces similar to a hopscotch board .

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Question 5 of 10

5. What were the rules of the game in which the characters were engaged? Hint

Whatever Sir said they were.

The rules were derived from the Commandments of the King James Bible.

Similar to checkers, whoever ended up with the most men won.

The rules were voted upon by the urchins.

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Question 6 of 10

6. Although every song in the play is memorable if you've seen the play, one in particular became something of a hit. Which one? Hint

Things to Remember

My First Love Song

Put It in the Book

Who Can I Turn To?

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who were the Urchins? Hint

Major and Minor

They trumphed over Cocky in the end, beating him at the game.

Sir's children

The chorus

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Question 8 of 10

8. What was the role of the Negro? Hint

He diverted Sir's attention from Cocky so Cocky could recover.

He lured the Urchins away to Sir could continue the game.

To further oppress Cocky, making it tougher for him to win.

He showed Cocky that Sir could be bested.

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Question 9 of 10

9. How many Tony Awards did the play win in 1965? Hint

Only one-Best Actor

Two, for Musical Score and Best Actor

None

Three, for Musical Score, Best Actor, and Best Set Design

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Question 10 of 10

10. So, who won the game? Hint

Cocky

The Urchins

Sir

It was a draw.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What English actor collaborated on the songs, wrote, directed, and starred in the original production of the play on Broadway?

Answer: Anthony Newley

Anthony Newley wrote most of the tunes, not--as one might expect--the lyrics, to the songs.

2. What was the "message" of the play?

Answer: The little guy can triumph over the corrupt and powerful.

The play is an allegorical representation of the transformation and ultimate triumph of the small and downtrodden over corrupt, complacent and cruel powermongers. It doesn't sound like it could be, but it's actually very funny for the most part!

3. In the original 1965 Broadway production, who played the lead opposite the play's author?

Answer: Cyril Ritchard

Cyril Ritchard, an Australian actor with a long and distinguished career, played Sir, the personification of power misused. Sir, although as wretchedly dressed as the others in the cast, clearly holds all the marbles.

4. What was the stage set for the play?

Answer: A spiral trail of spaces similar to a hopscotch board .

The stage was meant to represent a gameboard, the backdrop against which the characters played the game of life.

5. What were the rules of the game in which the characters were engaged?

Answer: Whatever Sir said they were.

Sir made the rules and changed them at a whim. The rules were always designed with one end in mind--to thwart Cocky and keep Sir in power. Sir delighted in destroying any small bit of happiness Cocky managed to find.

6. Although every song in the play is memorable if you've seen the play, one in particular became something of a hit. Which one?

Answer: Who Can I Turn To?

"Who Can I Turn To" was recorded by several other artists, including Tony Bennett; the song, sung in despair by Cocky when it seems he will never find a way out from under Sir's thumb, is addressed to God--"Who can I turn to if you turn away?"

7. Who were the Urchins?

Answer: The chorus

The urchins were present for most of the play. They were fickle creatures who slavishly doted on whomever was on top in the game at the moment--and who gleefully put down whomever wasn't.

8. What was the role of the Negro?

Answer: He showed Cocky that Sir could be bested.

The Negro (remember, this was in the mid 1960s--at the time, the term was respectful) was a joyous young man who simply ignored Sir's rules, thus robbing him of power. He just walked the length of the gameboard until he occupied the winning square in the center. Watching this, Cocky realized that it was possible that he, too, could win!

9. How many Tony Awards did the play win in 1965?

Answer: None

"Greasepaint" was nominated for six Tonys and lost all six to "Fiddler on the Roof". The song "Who Can I Turn To" was nominated for a Grammy and lost to "Hello, Dolly". Tough competition that year!

10. So, who won the game?

Answer: It was a draw.

At the end of the play, Cocky no longer blindly cedes power to Sir, and Sir has made a couple of concessions to Cocky. As the lights go down, they are engaged in spirited argument over what the rules should be, both with a point of view and neither with all the power.

Source: Author austinnene

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