The Play's the Thing Trivia Quiz

Answer: Doubt: A Parable

"Doubt" is about a Catholic school where Father Flynn is the priest. Sister Aloysius is the school's principal. She firmly believes that Father Flynn has been inappropriate with one of the boys at the school. Sister James, a teacher at the school, does not believe it. Sister Aloysius tells Father Flynn that she called one of his previous parishes and spoke to a nun about him because she believed another priest would cover for him. Father Flynn ends up getting a promotion, leaving the Catholic school he's currently at.

At the end Sister Aloysius exclaims to Sister James: "I have doubts. I have such doubts!". We are left to decide for ourselves if Father Flynn was guilty or not.

Answer: To Kill a Mockingbird

"To Kill a Mockingbird" is narrated by an adult Scout who is now in her 30s. It is how she remembers Maycomb, Alabama in 1935. It centers on the Finch family in two ways. It focuses on the adventures of Scout and Jem Finch, the children, and their friend Dill Harris. Then it also focuses on Atticus, their father, a lawyer, who tries to convince an all-white jury that a black man named Tom Robinson, was not guilty of raping Mayella Ewell. Tom was innocent but found guilty as this was the deep south in the early 1930s. He is killed when he tries to run. The two plots come together when Mayella's father, Bob, promises Atticus he'll get him back. He attempts to one night by trying to kill Jem, when Jem and Scout are walking home in the dark. Boo Radley, the town's reclusive man, saves Jem. The Sheriff declares that Bob fell on his own knife, so there will be no trial. Jem is unconscious and has a broken arm, but the doctor says he'll be fine. The title comes from the fact that Atticus tells Scout one day that no one should kill a mockingbird because they don't hurt anyone, they just sing for people to enjoy. In symbolism, Tom Robinson was the mockingbird. All he did was help Mayella, he never hurt her.

Another interesting fact is that the character of Dill Harris was based upon Harper Lee's childhood friend, Truman Capote.

Answer: I Remember Mama

"I Remember Mama" was adapted from Kathryn Forbes' memoir "Mama's Bank Account". The play centers on a Norwegian family that lives in San Francisco. The story is told through the eyes of one of the daughters, Katrin. The family's cat was renamed "Uncle" Elizabeth upon discovering he was actually a tomcat.

This show is funny in some parts but also sad in some, such as the scene in which the girls' uncle dies. The family also has three aunts: Jenny, Sigrid and Trina, the first two being very selfish and rather domineering.

The family works hard to put their son Nels through high school, but manage to give Nels and the girls an education through hard work and wise financial planning.

Answer: The Odd Couple: Female Version

Florence's husband kicked her out of the house, so she goes to live with her best friend Olive. The two are complete opposites. Whereas Florence is a neat freak and very neurotic, Olive is a fun-loving slob. The original "The Odd Couple" with the characters was made into a play as well as a movie and a TV series. It was also written by Neil Simon.

Answer: Cyrano de Bergerac

"Cyrano de Bergerac" tells the story of a man, Cyrano, with an unusually large nose, who falls in love with his cousin Roxanne. Because of his nose, he believes she will reject him. He helps Christian, who is also in love with Roxanne and very handsome, but not very romantic, woo her.

Answer: Moonlight and Magnolias

"Moonlight and Magnolias" is the very comedic story of film producer David O. Selznick, who's about five weeks into filming "Gone with the Wind" when he decides the script is horrible. He hires director Victor Fleming to direct and Ben Hecht to write a good screenplay.

The problem: Hecht never read the book. For five days Fleming, Selznick, and Hecht stay locked in Selznick's office with Selznick and Fleming telling Hecht the story of "Gone with the Wind" so they can come up with a good screenplay.

This story is a farce, although based on historical events.

Answer: The Diary of Anne Frank

"The Diary of Anne Frank" is a play based on Anne Frank's diary. Anne and her family are kept safe in an attic in Amsterdam, Holland in the secret annex. She went into hiding for two years before the Nazis found her family and sent them to concentration camps. The play itself was written by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, who won a Pulitzer Prize for their script.

Answer: Hamlet

"Hamlet" is a tragedy. It is the story of Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, who learns his father was murdered by Hamlet's uncle so his uncle could become king. Hamlet seeks to avenge his father's death.

The title of this quiz comes from another line in Hamlet: "The play's the thing in which I'll catch the conscience of the king."

Answer: Pygmalion

"Pygmalion" tells the story of a young woman named Eliza Dolittle, whose father Mr. Dolittle just wants to be left to his own vices (drinking and working as little as possible). Eliza, however, meets Henry Higgins, who wants to teach her to speak the Queen's English instead of the cockney English she speaks. He teaches her well enough to take her to a high society ball. He treats Eliza poorly, however, and she eventually leaves him.

The musical "My Fair Lady" by Alan Jay Learner and Frederick Loewe was based on "Pygmalion".

Answer: The Miracle Worker

In the play, Annie Sullivan comes to help a deaf-blind child named Helen Keller. She first teaches her obedience, then one day she finally breaks through and Helen understands that w-a-t-e-r means water. The play is based on Helen Keller's autobiography, "The Story of My Life".