Passion Plays Quiz | Musicals Mixture

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The passionate song from the play "Two Gentlemen of Verona" is sung by Julia, Lucetta and the Ensemble.

Answer: Hot Lover

"Two Gentlemen from Verona" is a rock musical based on a play of the same name by Shakespeare. It was first performed on Broadway in 1971, featuring the music of Galt MacDermot and lyrics by John Guare. It won a Tony award for Best Musical in 1972.

2. "110 In the Shade" features a song about weather that could fry an egg, sung by Sheriff File and the Townspeople.

Answer: Another Hot Day

This 1960s Broadway production was based on a comedy called "The Rainmaker" by N. Richard Nash, and its original production was choreographed by Agnes de Mille. The story centres on people who are as parched for true love as the ground is for rain. You won't be surprised when I tell you that in the end, true love is found - and the rain comes!

It was nominated for several awards, but it wasn't until the 2007 version that it won two awards, one 'Outstanding Revival of a Musical' and the other 'Outstanding Actress in a Musical'.

3. The spirited piece from "Orpheus in the Underworld" is perhaps best known as the music for the "can-can".

Answer: Infernal Galop

This comic operetta by Jacques Offenbach retells the Greek tragedy of a musician who is so distressed over the death of his wife, Eurydice, that he travel to the Underworld to woo her back to the Upperworld with his poignant music.

Offenbach's comic variation on the classical tale sees Eurydice willingly relocating to the Underworld to be with the lover she had had while alive. Those at the premier of the work in 1858 were more than slightly shocked at the treatment of the subject, with its irreverent twists which mocked previous renditions of the story.

The music of this Offenbach musical has been adapted many times, including by Saens-Sans, who used it for his "Carnival of the Animals".

4. "Only the Lonely", a stage show and movie about the music legend, Roy Orbison, includes this song, that shows real spark.

Answer: Fire

The musical celebrated the life of Roy Orbison. "Only the Lonely" features many of the songs that made him so famous, including "Please Please Me", "Roll Over Beethoven", and "Long Tall Sally". It portrays his life from when he was starting out and his interactions with such well-known artists as the Beatles, Bobby Vee and the Everly Brothers.

The song 'Fire' is featured as the third song of a mashup with "Keep on Running" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash", during a countdown scene.

5. In "Mary Poppins", Mary wants to give the children a spoonful of sugar, but what fiery alternative does Miss Andrew prefer?

Answer: Brimstone and Treacle

Mary Poppins (who leaves without notice), returns (without notice) to confront Miss Andrew who is using tough love to bring the children into line.

"So, children. You've decided to come crawling back, have you?
Well, I think we know what's needed now!
Brimstone and treacle, my favourite liquor.
That will make runaways stop!
Impudent children
respond so much quicker
when forced to drink every last drop."

An argument with Mary Poppins ensues, but Mary prevails and sends Miss Andrew packing.

6. Also called "Bessie's Blues", this steamy "Breakfast at Tiffany's" song is performed by Doc Golightly, Bessie and Ensemble.

Answer: Hot Damn

This musical is based in a story written by Truman Capote, and the 1961 film of that name, with words and music by Bob Merrill. It was previewed on Broadway in December 1966. However, despite the immense popularity of the film and big names including Mary Tyler Moore, the musical was greeted with resounding criticism and didn't ever open officially.

7. This saucy song from "Spamalot" the musical encourages one to be optimistic.

Answer: Always Look On The Bright Side of Life

Though originally written by Eric Idle for Monty Python's "The Life of Brian", "Always Look On The Bright Side of Life" appears twice in the musical "Spamalot" which is based on "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". Both parodies of the legend of King Arthur, each version is quite different, including having some different songs.

"Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" is performed by Patsy, King Arthur, Sir Lancelot, Sir Robin, Sir Galahad, Sir Bedevere, and The Knights of Ni.

8. Meat Loaf sang this warm number in his debut in the Roxy Theatre version of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show".

Answer: Hot Patootie

Eddie, played by Meatloaf, sings the song "Hot Patootie - Bless My Soul" in the 1975 stage production of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show". The song is an expression of Eddie's love of Saturday night rock and roll, and a past love. It was composed by Richard O'Brien, who was originally intended to play Eddie; musical arrangements were by Richard Hartley.

9. The American Marines were in the Dreamland bar for this smouldering song in "Miss Saigon".

Answer: The Heat Is On in Saigon

This musical is a retelling of Puccini's "Madame Butterfly". It is the story of an American Marine who has a love affair with a Vietnamese girl which results in the birth of their son. Sadly, they are separated by the fall of Saigon. They try to find each other over the ensuing years; the story ends up in tragedy for her (Kim), but hope for a life in America for her son.

10. The hot song from "Grease" is sung by Danny and Sandy and speaks of their holiday love affair.

Answer: Summer Nights

Though most people are more familiar with the 1978 movie version of "Grease", it was written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey in 1972 and had 3388 performances on Broadway. In the song "Summer Nights", Danny boasts about his exploits with a girl over the summer vacation, but doesn't mention that it was actually a case of true love with Sandy.

Source: Author VegemiteKid

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Passion Plays Trivia Quiz

It takes fire to get the imagination working so it is hardly surprising that this same passion would drift into the song titles of some famous musicals. See if you can match the spark with the play.

Questions		Choices
1. The passionate song from the play "Two Gentlemen of Verona" is sung by Julia, Lucetta and the Ensemble.		Hot Patootie
2. "110 In the Shade" features a song about weather that could fry an egg, sung by Sheriff File and the Townspeople.		Another Hot Day
3. The spirited piece from "Orpheus in the Underworld" is perhaps best known as the music for the "can-can".		Infernal Galop
4. "Only the Lonely", a stage show and movie about the music legend, Roy Orbison, includes this song, that shows real spark.		Brimstone and Treacle
5. In "Mary Poppins", Mary wants to give the children a spoonful of sugar, but what fiery alternative does Miss Andrew prefer?		Hot Damn
6. Also called "Bessie's Blues", this steamy "Breakfast at Tiffany's" song is performed by Doc Golightly, Bessie and Ensemble.		Fire
7. This saucy song from "Spamalot" the musical encourages one to be optimistic.		Always Look On The Bright Side of Life
8. Meat Loaf sang this warm number in his debut in the Roxy Theatre version of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show".		Hot Lover
9. The American Marines were in the Dreamland bar for this smouldering song in "Miss Saigon".		Summer Nights
10. The hot song from "Grease" is sung by Danny and Sandy and speaks of their holiday love affair.		The Heat Is On in Saigon