Musical Summaries in Four Words Quiz

Answer: Cats

Most of the lyrics from "Cats" come from the T.S. Eliot book "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats." The cats, with names like Munkustrap, Mungojerrie, Rumpelteazer, Shimbleshanks, and Mr. Mistoffelees, sing and dance at a junkyard one night while they wait to see whom Old Deuteronomy will choose to be reborn. Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the music.

Answer: Beauty and the Beast

This musical is based on the Disney film from 1991. The Beast is a selfish, angry prince who will become human again if he can learn to love another and earn her love. Belle is the beauty who learns to look beneath and surface and unearth the kind man beneath. The servants have been turned into furniture as part of the curse and defend the castle against the townsfolk at the end.

Answer: Annie Get Your Gun

This musical is based on the life of American sharpshooter Annie Oakley. It contains the songs "There's No Business Like Show Business" and "Anything You Can Do." In the latter song, Annie claims that she can do anything better than Frank, the star of the Wild West show.

They compete over who can sing sweeter, sing louder, and hold a note longer. In at least one recording, Annie holds the note for almost twenty seconds.

Answer: The Full Monty

Six unemployed men decide to strip at a local club to earn money. However, they will take their act further than most acts by taking everything off. This musical is based on the film of the same name.

Answer: The Lion King

"The Lion King" was adapted from the Disney film about a lion cub whose uncle murders his father to become king and then exiles his nephew (much like the Shakespeare play). The musical adds new songs, like "Endless Night" and "The Madness of King Scar." Many of the animals are ingeniously done--for example, the giraffes are played by people with stilts on their hands and feet.

Answer: Avenue Q

In basic terms, this musical is about growing up and finding out that, unlike what adults often tell kids about being special, adults' options are limited. It discusses themes like racism, homosexuality, and pornography, and contains puppet nudity. The puppets coexist with humans as if they were human. During the play, the puppeteers do not conceal themselves; the performers and audience are expected to act as if the puppeteers are not there.

The songs have humorous titles like "It Sucks to Be Me," "I Wish I Could Go Back to College," and "I'm not Wearing Underwear Today."

Answer: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Slave Pseudolus tries to get virgin Philia for his master's son, Hero, who is in love with the girl. In this musical, hilarity abounds, including mix-ups, the Seven Hills of Rome, siblings separated at birth, a haunting caused by a man singing in a bath, men in drag, and mare's sweat. The opening song "Comedy Tonight" appeared in one of the early episodes of "The Muppet Show."

Answer: Fiddler on the Roof

Tevye, a Jewish milkman with five daughters, tries to get the girls married off in the traditional way--via matchmaker. However, the daughters find their own mates and pledge themselves without their father's consent, much to his chagrin. This plot is similar to the other main plotline, which deals with the exile of the Jews from their village and the ending of their traditions. Topol plays Tevye in the film version.

Answer: Kiss of the Spider Woman

Luis Molina, a window dresser, makes his days in prison endurable by recounting a movie he once saw to his cellmate, a political prisoner. The Spider Woman is one of the characters from his stories. It was adapted from a book, which has also been made into a movie featuring William Hurt and Raul Julia.

Answer: Les Miserables

"Les Miserables," often called "Les Miz," is based on the Victor Hugo book. Jean Valjean has been released from prison after nineteen years; he then steals from a bishop, who tells him to use the silver for good. There are many characters in this three-hour musical, including a group of students fighting in the revolution and Cosette, the daughter of a prostitute, whom Valjean raises. Most of the major characters die.

The musical unfolds almost entirely in song.