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Iolanthe Trivia

Iolanthe Trivia Quizzes

'Iolanthe' is subtitled 'The Peer and the Peri', which provides a good clue about its plot. Strephon, son of the fairy Iolanthe (banished from fairyland because she wed a mortal), wants to marry Phyllis, a goal shared by the entire House of Peers.

2 Iolanthe quizzes and 35 Iolanthe trivia questions.

Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Iolanthe'

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

I played the title role in Iolanthe in 2001, and it's one of my favorite G&S operettas. Here's a quiz on it.

Average, 10 Qns, Anna M, Oct 31 16

Average
Anna M
497 plays

Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Multiple Choice

25 Qns

If you've ever seen Gilbert and Sullivan's hilarious operetta "Iolanthe" (or "The Peer and the Peri") you should definitely try this quiz! I give you a taste of the lyrics, you give me the song!

Tough, 25 Qns, HogwartsHottie, Oct 31 16

Tough
HogwartsHottie
460 plays

Iolanthe Trivia Questions

1. At the beginning of the operetta, where is Iolanthe?

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Iolanthe'

Answer: At the bottom of a stream

She was banished for marrying a mortal, and she chose to be banished to the bottom of the stream so she could be near her son, Strephon.

2. What song is this? "If you ask us how we live, lovers all essentials give. We can ride on lovers' sighs, warm ourselves in lovers' eyes..."

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: Tripping Hither, Tripping Thither

Fairies: "Tripping hither, tripping thither, nobody knows why our whither! We must dance and we must sing round about our fairy ring!" This is at the very beginning of the show, when the fairies bounce onstage to tell about how much they miss Iolanthe.

3. 'To think that five-and-twenty years have elapsed since she was banished! What could she have done to have deserved to terrible a punishment?' What did Iolanthe do?

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Iolanthe'

Answer: She married a mortal

Leila: 'Something awful! She married a mortal!' Fleta: 'Oh! Is it injudicious to marry a mortal?' Leila: 'Injudicious? It strikes at the root of the whole fairy system!'

4. What song is this? "Every heart and every hand in our loving little band, welcomes thee to fairyland!"

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: Iolanthe! From Thy Dark Exile

The Queen and Fairies: "Welcome to our hearts again, Iolanthe! Iolanthe! We have shared thy bitter pain, Iolanthe! Iolanthe! Every heart and every hand in our loving little band, welcomes the to fairyland, Iolanthe! Iolanthe!" Here the queen and her band summon Iolanthe back from her stream, so she can rejoin their band.

5. Strephon, Iolanthe's son, is only half a fairy. Which half?

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Iolanthe'

Answer: Top half

'He's a fairy down to the waist - but his legs are mortal.'

6. What song is this? "With joy beyond telling, my bosom is swelling! So join in a measure expressive of pleasure, for I'm to be married today, today! Yes, I'm to be married today!"

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: Good Morrow, Good Mother

Strephon and fairies: "Yes he's to be married today, today! Yes, he's to be married today!" This song occurs when Iolanthe introduces her son, Strephon to her sisters and fairy brethren.

7. Why is Phyllis unable to marry Strephon?

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Iolanthe'

Answer: The Lord Chancellor forbids it

'Oh, mother, weep with me, for the Law has interposed between us, and the Lord Chancellor has separated us for ever!'

8. What song is this? "Shouldst thou be in doubt or danger, peril or perplexity, call us and we'll come to thee!"

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: Fare Thee Well

The Queen and fairies: "Fare thee well, attractive stranger." Here, the queen promises that Strephon will have the fairies' special protection no matter where he goes.

9. After being insulted by the Lord Chancellor, the Fairy Queen sends Strephon into Parliament. What does she threaten to have him do there?

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Iolanthe'

Answer: Make the peerage open to competitive examination

'Peers shall teem in Christendom, And a Duke's exalted station be attainable by Competitive Examination!'

10. What song is this? "I prithee discover, steal purchase or borrow some means of concealing the care you are feeling and join in a measure expressive of pleasure..."

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: Good Morrow, Good Lover

Strephon and Phyllis: "For we're to be married today, today! Yes, we're to be married today!" We meet Phyllis in this song-- Strephon's one true love. They plan to be married today, even though the Lord Chancellor (Phyllis' guardian) forbids it.

11. Who is the only character on stage at the beginning of Act II?

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Iolanthe'

Answer: Private Willis

He sings his famous song, 'When all night long a chap remains', about the convenient division of the world into Liberal and Conservative politicians.

12. What song is this? "Thou the tree, and I the flower; Thou the idol, I the throng; Thou the day, and I the hour; Thou the singer, I the song!"

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: None Shall Part Us From Each Other

Phyllis and Strephon: "None shall part us from each other: one in life and death are we. All in all to one another; I to thee and thou to me." They declare their undying love for each other... how cute!

13. Why do Lord Tolloller and Lord Mountararat decide that neither of them should marry Phyllis?

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Iolanthe'

Answer: Their friendship is too important

'Not even love should rank above True Friendship's name!'

14. What song is this? "Bow, bow, ye lower middle classes! Bow, bow, ye tradesmen, bow ye masses!"

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: Loudly Let the Trumpet Bray

The peers: "Loudly let the trumpet bray! Tan-ta-ta-ra! (tzing-boom)Tan-ta-ta-ra! (tzing-boom)" They basically just march in during this song. How exciting, huh?! But it is a hilarious song!

15. What is Iolanthe's secret?

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Iolanthe'

Answer: The Lord Chancellor is her husband

The Lord Chancellor is her husband, and Strephon's father! This really is a typical Gilbert and Sullivan plot.

16. What song is this? "Of all the young ladies that I know this pretty young lady's the fairest: Her lips have the rosiest show, her eyes are the richest and rarest..."

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: My Well-Loved Lord and Guardian Dear

Phyllis, Lord Tolloler, Lord Mountararat, and peers: "My well loved lord and guardian dear, you summoned me and I am here!" "Oh rapture! How beautiful! How gentle, how dutiful!" The peers are all in love with Phyllis, and want her for their promised bride. But, of course, we already know she loves Strephon.

17. At the end of the operetta, the Fairy Queen must marry a mortal. Who does she choose?

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Iolanthe'

Answer: Private Willis

As he says, 'Well, ma'am, I don't think much of the British soldier who wouldn't inconvenience himself to save a female in distress'.

18. What song is this? "No, no, indeed high rank will never hurt you-- peerage is not destitute of virtue."

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: Nay, Tempt Me Not

Phyllis and peers: "Nay, tempt me not, to rank I'll not be bound. In lowly cot alone is virtue found." Phyllis makes it quite clear that rank doesn't matter to her, and she'd rather marry a shepherd (like Strephon) she does love than rich peers whom she doesn't.

19. What song is this? "When virtuous love is sought thy power is naught, though dating from the Flood, blue blood-- ah, blue blood!"

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: Spurn Not the Nobly Born

Lord Tolloler and peers: "Spurn not the nobly born with love affected, nor treat with virtuous scorn the well connected!" Peers RULE! When I was in "Iolanthe", I played Iolanthe and a peer on my off-nights.

20. What song is this? "'Tis I, young Strephon! Mine this priceless treasure! Against the world I claim my darling's hand!"

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: My Lords, It May Not Be

Phyllis, Lord Tolloler, Lord Mountararat, Strephon, Lord Chancellor, and peers: "My lords it may not be! With grief my heart is riven! You waste your time on me, for ah, my heart is given!" Phyllis tells all the lords that she is already betrothed to Strephon. Let's just say that they are NOT happy.

21. What song is this? "I'll work on a new and original plan (Said I to myself said I), I'll never assume that a rogue or a thief is a gentleman worthy of implicit belief, because his attorney sent me a brief (Said I to myself said I)!"

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: I Went to the Bar As A Very Young Man

Lord Chancellor: "Said I to myself said I!"

22. What song is this? "When tempests wreck thy bark, and all is drear and dark, if thou shouldst need an ark, I'll give the one!" "What was that?" "I heard the minx remark, she'd meet him after dark inside St. James's Park and give him one!"

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: Act 1 Finale: When Darkly Looms the Day

Cast: "I worshiped him blindly, he worships another!" "Attend to my kindly, this lady's my mother!" "This lady's his WHAT?" "This lady's my mother!" "This lady's his WHAT?" "He says she's his mother!" "Hahahahahaha! Hahahahaha!" Here, Strephon is caught getting cozy with his mother, Iolanthe, and everyone won't believe that she's his mom for the simple reason that she looks like she's 17. (She IS a fairy, after all.) Phyllis declares that she and Strephon must be parted, much to his dismay. The Queen also casts a spell, putting Strephon in charge of both political houses-- much to the peer's dismay!

23. What song is this? "He exercises of his brains-- that is, assuming he's got any!"

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: When All Night Long A Chap Remains

Private Willis: "When all night long a chap remains on sentry go, to chase the monotony..." Act 2: We're now in London at the house of peers.

24. What song is this? "Strephon makes them shake in their shoes! Shake in their shoes! Shake in their shoes! Shake in their shoes! Shake in their shoes! Strephon makes them shake in their shoes, shake in their shoes!"

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: Strephon's A Member of Parliment

Fairies: "Strephon's a member of parliament! Carries every bill he chooses. To his measures all assent-- showing fairies have their uses."

25. What song is this? "It's true we sigh, but don't suppose a tearful eye forgiveness shows!"

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: In Vain to Us You Plead

Fairies and peers: "In vain to us you plead-- Don't go! Your prayers we do not heed-- Don't go!" After the peers sing a song about Britain, the fairies begin to warm up to their pompous behavior, but strongly refuse to take away Strephon's position in parliament.

26. What song is this? "Because I fly in realms above, in tendency to fall in love, resemble I the am'rous dove? Resemble I the am'rous dove? Oh, am'rous dove! Type of Ovidius, Naso!"

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: Oh, Foolish Fay

The Queen and fairies: "Oh foolish fay, think you, because his brave array my bosom thaws, I'd disobey our fairy laws?" Here, the queen spots Private Willis who attracts her attention. However, to set an example for her subjects she "wrestles with" her "natural impulse to fall down and worship" him.

27. What song is this? "Oh many a man in friendship's name, has yielded fortune rank and fame! But no one yet, in the world so wide, has yielded up a promised bride!"

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: Though P'rhaps I May Incur Your Blame

Phyllis, Lord Tololler, Lord Mountararat, and Private Willis: "Though p'rhaps I may incur your blame, the things are few I would not do in friendship's name!" "And I may say I think the same; Not even love should rank above friendship's name!" Lucky Lord Tololler and Lord Mountararat are told by the Lord Chancellor that they must decide, out of the two of them, who gets to marry Phyllis. Both decide to decline, out of friendship's name, of course.

28. What song is this? "If by chance we should be parted, broken hearted I should die. So I think we'll not tarry ere we marry, you and I."

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: If We're Weak Enough to Tarry

Strephon and Phyllis: "If we're weak enough to tarry ere we marry, you and I. Of the feeling I inspire, you may tire..." Strephon explains to Phyllis that Iolanthe is indeed his mother, and that he is half a fairy. She doesn't mind and swears that she understands that if she ever again catches him with another woman, it will only be "an elderly relative". Their wedding is back on-- if only they can convince the Chancellor...

29. What song is this? "My doom thy lips have spoken-- I plead in vain!" "Forbear! Forbear!" "A vow already broken, I break again!"

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe"

Answer: It May Not Be

Iolanthe, Lord Chancellor, Queen, and fairies: "It may not be-- for so the fates decide! Learn thou that Phyllis is my promised bride!" "Thy bride? No no!" The Lord Chancellor tells Iolanthe that he is to marry Phyllis. Iolanthe is shocked and hurt that he would betray her like this. She reveals herself as his wife, and he too is in shock. The fairy queen arrives, telling Iolanthe that she has broken another fairy law, and must be killed.

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