I Sing....NOT Quiz | Musicals

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. At the beginning of "Les Miserables", which takes place in 19th Century France, the audience is introduced to two title characters, Jean Valjean and Javert, at a prison in Toulon. Jean Valjean, a prisoner, is granted parole by Javert, a guard, after 19 years of imprisonment. Jean Valjean later breaks parole and takes on a new identity, with a new life as the Mayor of Montreuil-Sur-Mer. In addition to being Mayor, Jean Valjean also runs a factory, which employs Fantine as a worker. In the musical, at the factory, the workers sing about their lives in the song "At the End of the Day". Who does NOT sing "At the End of the Day" in the factory?

Answer: Javert

"At the End of the Day" is the audience's first introduction to the character of Fantine. She is a factory worker with the reputation of being "pure and clean" (according to the foreman). Fantine is discovered, during this song, to have a "secret" child.

She is subsequently fired from her job by Valjean's foreman, after Valjean breaks up a fight between Fantine and another woman and the factory's workers call for her immediate dismissal. She is sent to live out in the streets and fend for herself.

2. After being fired from Valjean's factory, Fantine falls into a life of prostitution. She sells her necklace, hair, and body, in order to earn enough money to send to the Thenardiers, who are "caring" for her daughter. One day, she ends up in trouble with the law after a scuffle with a man named Bamatabois, who wants to pay for her services. In the musical, the song "Fantine's Arrest" follows this scuffle. Which character is NOT a part of "Fantine's Arrest" ?

Answer: Constable

Javert, now an ordinary policeman working in Montreuil-Sur-Mer, intervenes on the scuffle, and assures Bamatabois that Fantine will be dealt with according to her crime. Valjean then steps in and saves Fantine from ending her days in prison. At this point, Fantine is weak and ill, and Valjean takes her home to live with him. Later, she dies in her bed after having convulsions.

3. As Fantine dies, she entrusts the care of her daughter, Cosette, to Jean Valjean. Jean Valjean travels to Montfermeil, to "take Cosette away" from the Thenardiers. In Monfermeil, a bargain ensues, to determine the proper price Jean Valjean should pay for Cosette, and the song "The Bargain/Thenardier Waltz of Treachery" is sung. Who of the following does NOT take part in "The Bargain/Thenardier Waltz of Treachery" ?

Answer: Cosette

When Jean Valjean arrives in Montfermeil, he discovers young Cosette alone in the woods. Madame Thenardier has sent her out to the well to fetch water, and young Cosette is alone, cold, and afraid. Jean Valjean and young Cosette meet up with the Thenardiers at their inn, and Jean Valjean haggles over price with both Thenardiers, who refuse to give young Cosette up for nothing because they had to pay all of her 'medical bills'...the crooks.

4. In the very next song, "Look Down", the musical jumps ten years forward. This next song, and the remainder of the musical, takes place in the streets of Paris. In "Look Down", the audience is introduced to several more important characters, including Gavroche, Enjolras, Marius, and Eponine. Only three of them actually sing in the song, however. Of these four newly-introduced main characters, which does NOT have a line in the song "Look Down" ?

Answer: Eponine

In "Look Down", Enjolras and Marius inform the people of Paris about their plans and pass out pamphlets to the citizens. Gavroche introduces himself in this song, as well as introducing the Thenardiers, Eponine, and Thenardier's Gang of thieves. Though Eponine does arrive at the end of the song, when Gavroche introduces her, she does not actually sing.

It is in the streets of Paris, following this song, that Marius first meets Cosette, and falls instantly in love with her.

5. A few days pass, and Marius is desperately in love with Cosette. He asks Eponine to find her for him, and she takes him to the home of Jean Valjean and Cosette. When they arrive, Cosette is already singing in the garden, the first of the couplet of love songs, "In My Life" and "A Heart Full of Love". These songs are sung in and around Valjean's gated garden. "In My Life" is sung by all four characters: Cosette, Jean Valjean, Marius, and Eponine. However, only three of them sing the sister song, "A Heart Full of Love". Which character does NOT sing "A Heart Full of Love"?

Answer: Jean Valjean

"A Heart Full of Love" is sung by Marius, Cosette, and Eponine. Marius has just entered the garden at Rue Plumet to express his love to Cosette, leaving Eponine outside to keep watch. Jean Valjean had just returned to the interior of his home, in the middle of "In My Life".

He reappears after the "Attack on Rue Plumet" when he hears Eponine scream from outside the gate, warning the couple in the garden of their imminent danger. While Marius and Cosette sing of their love for each other, Eponine sings of her unreturned love for Marius: "He was never mine to lose. Why regret what could not be? These are words he'll never say.

Not to me. Not to me. Not for me. His heart full of love. He will never feel this way."

6. Near the end of Act I, while Marius and Cosette are still in Valjean's garden, Eponine is keeping watch outside the gate. Suddenly Monsieur Thenardier and his gang of thieves arrive to rob the house, thinking Jean Valjean has a lot of money they can steal. The song they sing is the "Attack on Rue Plumet". It is sung by Monsieur Thenardier, his thieves, Eponine, Marius, Cosette, and Jean Valjean. Who does NOT take part in the "Attack on Rue Plumet" as he is not part of Thenardier's gang?

Answer: Bossuet

Those who sing "Attack on Rue Plumet" are Monsieur Thenardier, Eponine, Thenardier's Gang, including Montparnasse, Brujon, Babet, and Claquesous. The end of the song also includes Marius, who introduces Eponine to Cosette (though this is not the first time they've met) before he escapes with Eponine off into the shadow of the night, to safety.

Bossuet is a member of the Friends of the ABC and was at one time a fellow law student alongside Marius (though this fact is only mentioned in the novel). Bossuet has several valid names that are used by Victor Hugo, and it is really personal preference as to which one to use. His alternative names, as listed in the novel are: Lesgles, Laigle, Legle, and L'Aigle (meaning "The Eagle" in French).

7. Act II begins with the song "At the Barricade (Upon These Stones)". Many of the main male characters, as well as Eponine, are present at the barricade at this time, and take part in the song. The barricade is in its early stages at this point in the musical and no shots have yet been fired. "At the Barricade (Upon These Stones)" includes three of the following male characters. Which character does NOT belong with this song?

Answer: Gavroche

Though Gavroche fights with the Students/Friends of the ABC at the barricade, and appears at their meetings, he does not take part in this opening song to Act II (at least with his voice). Enjolras sings about the fight to come. Marius sings with Eponine and gives her the job of delivering his letter to Cosette. Javert sings about how he was once a part of the Guard and volunteers to spy on them for the students.

8. After the first attacks on the barricade, which occur in the first half of Act II, night falls on the student revolutionaries inside the walls. They pass around a few drinks and sing the melancholy song, "Drink with Me". A handful of men have solos in this song, including Marius, who concludes the song with "Would you weep, Cosette, for me?" Who of the following does NOT have a solo line in "Drink with Me"?

Answer: Courfeyrac

All of the above actually have lines in "Drink with Me", though Courfeyrac only sings when all the students sing together. Feuilly begins the song singing "Drink with me to days gone by. Sing with me the songs we knew." Jean Prouvaire and then Joly each have solo lines that immediate follow those of Feuilly. Jean Prouvaire: "Here's to pretty girls who went to our heads." Joly: "Here's to witty girls who went to our beds." Grantaire later plays off of Feuilly's verse when he sings "Drink with me to days gone by. Can it be you fear to die?"

9. At this point, late in Act II, the barricade has fallen and many have lost their lives. Marius has recovered from his severe injuries, which he sustained at the barricade, and is getting married to Cosette. The Thenardiers show up uninvited to the wedding, in an attempt to blackmail Marius. Of the four characters listed below, only three actually have lines in the "Wedding Chorale" which includes both the wedding ceremony, and the Thenardiers' attempt at blackmail. Which character appears in, but does NOT sing a line in, the "Wedding Chorale" ?

Answer: Cosette

The singing parts of the "Wedding Chorale" belong to Marius, and both Thenardiers. The Thenarders have "proof" that Jean Valjean was carrying a corpse on his back, in the sewers beneath Paris, on the night the barricade fell. Monsieur Thenardier shows Marius his "fine souvenir" which had belonged to Marius, and which was stolen off of his person by Monsieur Thenardier himself.

It is at this point in the musical that Marius learns that it was Jean Valjean who was responsible for delivering Marius from the barricade.

At one point during the song, Marius becomes so upset with Monsieur Thenardier that he punches him. Marius beckons to Cosette at the end of the chorale and they leave together. Cosette does not sing.

10. Arguably the most emotional song in the entire musical is "Valjean's Death". It is the second to last song of the musical, and takes place at Jean Valjean's deathbed. Jean Valjean looks back on his life, and looks ahead at what is to come. He begs forgiveness from his daughter, and from God. Who is NOT a part of the moving "Valjean's Death" scene?

Answer: Full Company

Valjean's death scene includes himself (of course), Cosette, Marius, and the ghosts of Fantine and Eponine. Cosette and Marius are there to say goodbye, and Fantine and Eponine are there to welcome Jean Valjean into heaven. The Full Company joins them in the "Finale" which takes place just after Jean Valjean, Fantine, and Eponine sing the line "To love another person is to see the face of God!" and Jean Valjean dies.

Source: Author kaddarsgirl

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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I Sing....NOT Trivia Quiz

In each question, I will describe a scene from the musical "Les Miserables". There will a be a corresponding song to each scene, and it is your job to tell me, of the possible answer choices, which person does NOT sing in the song that is described.

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