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Someone In A Tree Trivia Quiz

"Pacific Overtures" is an inventive musical by John Weidman and Stephen Sondheim. It has never had a long run, but the score is widely recognized as one of Sondheim's best works.

A multiple-choice quiz by anthonyrappfan. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
anthonyrappfan

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
232,182

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
154

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who is the commodore who comes to Japan? Hint

David Nelson

Matthew Perry

David Farragut

Joseph Porter

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Question 2 of 10

2. What does the Fisherman describe the four black ships as? Hint

Four black dooms

Four black devils

Four black deaths

Four black dragons

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Question 3 of 10

3. Who does NOT sing in "Someone in a Tree"? Hint

Boy

Reciter

Fisherman

Old Man

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Question 4 of 10

4. Kayama is one character that sings "Poems", but who is the other? Hint

Fisherman

Manjiro

Shogun

Reciter

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Question 5 of 10

5. In 2005, "Pacific Overtures" was revived at Studio 54. Who played the Reciter? Hint

B.D. Wong

Alvin Y.F. Ing

Mako

Aoshi Shinhomori

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Question 6 of 10

6. How old is the Young Boy? Hint

Eleven

Seven

Ten

Eight

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Question 7 of 10

7. Complete the lyric from "Please Hello": "Last time we visit, too short./ This time we visit for _____."

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 8 of 10

8. What is the third item that the samurai Kayama wears in "A Bowler Hat"? Hint

A watch

A bowler hat

A monocle

A cane

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Question 9 of 10

9. Who played the Reciter in the original Broadway cast? Hint

B.D. Wong

Mako

Alvin Y.F. Ing

Harry Kim

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Question 10 of 10

10. According to the original lyrics for "Next", how many Toyota dealerships are in Detroit? Hint

Sixteen

Ten

Eight

Fifty-Seven

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who is the commodore who comes to Japan?

Answer: Matthew Perry

The real Commodore Perry was born in 1794 and died in 1858, only three years after returning to the U.S. after opening Japan up to foreign trade. In the original Broadway production, Perry was played by Haruki Fujimoto.

2. What does the Fisherman describe the four black ships as?

Answer: Four black dragons

In the number "Four Black Dragons", Japanese townspeople react to Commodore Perry's ships. When they come ashore, some people reject them and some welcome them and adapt to their culture.

3. Who does NOT sing in "Someone in a Tree"?

Answer: Fisherman

The Old Man tells the Reciter that he saw the meeting between Commodore Perry and Japanese officials, and as his memory falters his younger self comes out. "Someone in a Tree" has been identified by Sondheim as his personal favorite out of all the songs he wrote.

4. Kayama is one character that sings "Poems", but who is the other?

Answer: Manjiro

Kayama and Manjiro were played by Isao Sato and Sab Shimono, respectively. "Poems" is just that, each character reciting a poem one after the other.

5. In 2005, "Pacific Overtures" was revived at Studio 54. Who played the Reciter?

Answer: B.D. Wong

B.D Wong has also been seen in "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" as Linus and "Face Value" as Randall Lee. He also appeared in the concert "Children and Art", celebrating Sondheim's 75th birthday.

6. How old is the Young Boy?

Answer: Ten

In "Someone in a Tree", a repeated line of the Young Boy's is "I am in a tree, I am ten. I am in a tree." The Young Boy is good at climbing trees, but the Old Man is less adept at it.

7. Complete the lyric from "Please Hello": "Last time we visit, too short./ This time we visit for _____."

Answer: slow

"Please Hello" is sung in broken English, representing the language dsifferences between the Japanese and the nations that came pouring in after Perry visits. The best line in the song is "President Fillmore now named Pierce!"

8. What is the third item that the samurai Kayama wears in "A Bowler Hat"?

Answer: A monocle

"A Bowler Hat" is sung by Kayama as he gradually modernizes himself, adapting to Western culture. First he is given a bowler hat, and he goes on to read English, enjoy Spinoza, and wear a tailcoat.

9. Who played the Reciter in the original Broadway cast?

Answer: Mako

Mako not only played the Reciter, but Jonathan Goble and a Shogun as well. He has also been seen in "M*A*S*H" and episodes of "Seventh Heaven" and "Walker, Texas Ranger".

10. According to the original lyrics for "Next", how many Toyota dealerships are in Detroit?

Answer: Eight

In the revival production, these facts were replaced with new ones. Examples are: "In 1991, Japanese investors bought the Empire State Building." and "Sony is now the #1 brand name in America".

Source: Author anthonyrappfan

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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