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(Neil) Simon Says Trivia Quiz

See how much you know about one of the most prolific american comic playwrights in our times: the always popular Neil Simon. The questions are all multiple choice.

A multiple-choice quiz by stageman. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
stageman

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
94,885

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
523

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was his given name at birth? Hint

Michael

Irving

Marvin

Martin

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Question 2 of 10

2. How many different wives did he have? Hint

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Question 3 of 10

3. What was the first play he had produced on Broadway? Hint

The Odd Couple

Come Blow Your Horn

Barefoot In The Park

Sweet Charity

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Question 4 of 10

4. When "The Odd Couple" premiered on Broadway, who starred in it with Walter Mathhau? Hint

Art Carney

Tony Randall

Jack Lemmon

Anthony Perkins

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which play is actually 3 short plays about 3 different couples in the same hotel room? Hint

California Suite

Prisoners of 2nd Avenue

Laughter On The 23rd Floor

Plaza Suite

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which was the only one of his plays that Simon (as well as many critics) considered a failure? Hint

The Star-Spangled Girl

Promises, Promises

Come Blow Your Horn

Last Of The Red Hot Lovers

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which play is based on the short stories of famous Russian playwright Anton Chekhov? Hint

God's Favorite

I Ought To Be In Pictures

Broadway Bound

The Good Doctor

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which of the following plays was NOT written by Neil Simon? Hint

Play It Again, Sam

Proposals

Rumors

They're Playing Our Song

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which play was based on his relationship with actress Marsha Mason? Hint

Chapter Two

They're Playing Our Song

Proposals

Broadway Bound

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which one of the following television series did Neil Simon NOT write for? Hint

The Odd Couple

Your Show of Shows

Sergeant Bilko

The Garry Moore Show

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was his given name at birth?

Answer: Marvin

Marvin Neil Simon was born on July 4, 1927 the son of Irving & Mamie.

2. How many different wives did he have?

Answer: 4

He was actually married 5 times! (He divorced his third wife Dianne Landers in 1987 and then remarried her in 1990). His second wife was actress Marsha Mason, whom he divorced in 1982; and his current wife (as of September,2002) is actress Elaine Joyce. She is the widow of actor Bobby Van.

3. What was the first play he had produced on Broadway?

Answer: Come Blow Your Horn

It premiered in 1961 starring Pert Kelton and Lou Jacobi. "Barefoot In the Park" was 2nd, "The Odd Couple" was third, and "Sweet Charity" was 4th (but his first musical).

4. When "The Odd Couple" premiered on Broadway, who starred in it with Walter Mathhau?

Answer: Art Carney

Mathhau also starred in the movie as the the slob Oscar Madison with Lemmon as the neat freak Felix Unger. The television series starred Jack Klugman as Oscar and Randall as Felix.

5. Which play is actually 3 short plays about 3 different couples in the same hotel room?

Answer: Plaza Suite

It took place in the Plaza Hotel in New York City. "California Suite" is the same idea but it was actually 4 different plays and one of them has 2 bickering couples.

6. Which was the only one of his plays that Simon (as well as many critics) considered a failure?

Answer: The Star-Spangled Girl

He agreed with Walter Kerr's assessment that "Neil Simon didn't have an idea for a play this year, but he wrote it anyway!".

7. Which play is based on the short stories of famous Russian playwright Anton Chekhov?

Answer: The Good Doctor

All the stories are tied together by "The Writer" who is sort of a cross between Simon & Chekhov. This is the play in which Simon met Marsha Mason (one of the stars).

8. Which of the following plays was NOT written by Neil Simon?

Answer: Play It Again, Sam

This play about a loveable loser who gets advice from the ghosts of Humphrey Bogart and his ex-wife was actually written by Woody Allen.

9. Which play was based on his relationship with actress Marsha Mason?

Answer: Chapter Two

"They're Playing Our Song" was actually about composer Marvin Hamlisch.

10. Which one of the following television series did Neil Simon NOT write for?

Answer: The Odd Couple

Although it was based on his play he never wrote any of the episodes. "Sergeant Bilko" was a sitcom starring Phil Silvers, and "Your Show of Shows" had comedy sketches starring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coco.

Source: Author stageman

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ltc717 before going online.
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