Knights on Broadway: Spamalot Quiz | Musicals

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What composer collaborated with Eric Idle on the music for "Spamalot"?

Answer: John du Prez

du Prez also scored the film "A Fish Called Wanda," so there's a previous connection to the Pythons. None of the other original troupe members had anything to do with the writing or composition of the show.

2. Although "Spamalot" is Eric Idle's baby, which Python colleague contributed the "voice of God"?

Answer: John Cleese

Eight performances a week on Broadway, and he's never even broken a sweat!

3. What song that was not in the film sends up the "big numbers" in shows such as "Phantom of the Opera" and "Les Miserables"?

Answer: The Song that Goes Like This

It's worth the time to read the lyrics; they're hilarious. The two singers even stand in a rowboat under a chandelier!

"Once in every show
There comes a song like this
It starts off soft and low
And ends up with a kiss
Oh where is the song
That goes like this?
Where is it? Where? Where?

A sentimental song
That casts a magic spell
They all will hum along
We'll overact like hell
For this is the song that goes like this
Yes it is! Yes it is!

Now we can go straight
Right down the middle eight
A bridge that is too far for me

I'll sing it in your face
While we both embrace
And then
We change
The key

Now we're into E!
*hem* That's awfully high for me
But as everyone can see
We should have stayed in D
For this is our song that goes like this!

I'm feeling very proud
You're singing far too loud
That's the way that this song goes
You're standing on my toes
Singing our song that goes like this!

I can't believe there's more
It's far too long, I'm sure
That's the trouble with this song
It goes on and on and on
For this is our song that is too long!

We'll be singing this til dawn
You'll wish that you weren't born
Let's stop this damn refrain
Before we go insane
For this is our song that ends like this!"

4. What actress originated the part of the Lady in Chicago and New York?

Answer: Sara Ramirez

Although the other three ladies are all Broadway veterans, it has been Sara (pronounced SAH-ra with a rolled "r") who has stolen the show in all the major female parts. She claims to have never had a voice lesson, but her mom had a guitar and they sang around the house. Oh, sure, that's all it takes to get a 4-octave range and enough power to blow Ethel Merman out of a room!

5. Two leading actors in "Spamalot" were nominated for Tony awards for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (2005), along with three other contenders. Who won?

Answer: Norbert Leo Butz

David Hyde Pierce got top-billing but did not receive a nomination. Tim Curry (King Arthur) and Hank Azaria (various characters, mostly played by John Cleese in the film) did. Having seen the show in its out-of-town tryout in Chicago, I believe the Tony nominating committee were fair in excluding him.

Both John Lithgow and the unfortunately named Norbert Leo Butz were nominated for "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," and Butz got the prize. A personal note: Even though I loved "Spamalot", I was rooting for Norbert. He grew up in my hometown, St. Louis, and attended Webster University where I am a faculty member.

6. "Spamalot" won the award for "Best Musical," and so did its director. Who directed the show?

Answer: Mike Nichols

The show itself took only three Tony awards of its 14 nominations. "Light in the Piazza" scored five. Mike Nichols, however, added his ninth award to his roster of 17 nominations.

7. In "Spamalot," what do the boys decide is the Holy Grail?

Answer: To Get to Broadway

Many options are discussed, but the "silly k-nigits" decide Broadway is the quest.

8. Nobody ever accused the Pythons of political correctness. What does Sir Robin point out to King Arthur that they must have in order to achieve their goal?

Answer: A Jew

Ouch! Direct shot at Mel Brooks and many other producers before him. Every night the person seated in Row A, Seat 101 is brought to the stage and presented as the "savior," their much-needed Jew.

"Arthur, can you hear me?

To get along on Broadway,
To sing a song on Broadway,
To hit the top on Broadway and not lose,
I tell you, Arthur king,
There is one essential thing...
There simply must be, simply must be Jews.

There simply must be,
Arthur trust me,
Simply must be Jews."

9. Movie fans will remember the scene with the peasants, Dennis and his mother. What is the outcome of the scene onstage?

Answer: Dennis is knighted

Dennis becomes "Dennis Galahad," purest of all the knights. Conveniently, Galahad turns out to be his last name! When he hesitates over his decision to join the crew, he's persuaded by The Lady of the Lake and the Laker Girls--especially funny when you remember that Christopher Sieber is openly gay in real life!

"ARTHUR (spoken):
Stand aside, Mrs. Galahad, while the Lady of the Lake
and her Laker Girls welcome your son to my army."

10. One song in the show has been imported from another Python project. Where did we first hear "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life"?

Answer: The Life of Brian

"For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word.
You must always face the curtain with a bow.
Forget about your sin.
Give the audience a grin.
Enjoy it. It's your last chance, anyhow."

And always look on the bright side of life!

Source: Author braunda

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Knights on Broadway: Spamalot Trivia Quiz

"Spamalot" is a smash-a-lot. Knowing the film will help, but there are differences and there are questions requiring knowledge outside the show itself.

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