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Quiz about Upstart Crow A 2nd Groats Worth of Wit I

"Upstart Crow" - A 2nd Groat's Worth of Wit (I) Quiz

The second series of "Upstart Crow" continues the adventures of Will Shakespeare, as told by Ben Elton. How closely have you been following what the Bard has been up to?

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

Author
Red_John

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
390,980

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
121

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Kit Marlowe introduces Will to Prince Otello, an African warlord with many a tale to tell. However, the biggest tale he tells is that he is an African warlord, when in fact he is a conman from where? Hint

Portsmouth

Southampton

Bristol

Dover

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Will invents musical theatre through his idea to marry his words with songs in one play, with his first being a collaboration with the madrigal writer Thomas Morley, called "Norwich Boy". However, when Morley withdraws the use of his songs, what comedy play does Will alter "Norwich Boy" into? Hint

The Comedy of Errors

As You Like It

All's Well That Ends Well

Much Ado About Nothing

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Thomas Morley is the most popular madrigal writer of the time, making many young maids go diddly-do-dah, including Will's daughter Susanna, but who plays the flamboyant musical star? Hint

Bret McKenzie

Russell Brand

Noel Fielding

Bill Bailey

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. When Kate and Marlowe go squiffy for each other while Kate is teaching him Italian prior to his secret mission to Verona, they exchange love tokens before his departure. Kate gives Marlowe her communion ring, but what does Marlowe give her in return? Hint

A lock of his hair

His codpiece

His nosewipe

His nipple ring

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. In addition to being a right roisterer, a "playwright" and all around dashing fellow, Kit Marlowe works for the head of England's secret service, but what is his boss's name? Hint

Sir Francis Bacon

Sir Robert Cecil

Sir Francis Walsingham

Sir John Fortescue

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Will feels inspired to write another Henry play - this time sanitising the memory of Henry VIII. When devising the plot, he envisages light romantic comedy and comes up with the tagline "One King, Six Queens..." Hint

Will he get his Hampton Court?

Is he just after the head?

Who will end up feeling his chopper?

It's all about the boy

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Will determines that Henry V is too pious to headline his own play, and feels that he needs another character, bawdy and ultimately pathetic, to add a dynamic to the plot. Who is the inspiration for this character? Hint

Kit Marlowe

Bottom

Robert Greene

Will's father

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Robert Greene, Master of the Revels and Chief Herald, is also a playwright and poet, perpetually desperate for a revival of his most celebrated work, but what is it called? Hint

Selimus

The History of Orlando Furioso

Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay

The Scottish History of James the Fourth

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Will decides to set his new comedy about a headstrong and gutsy maiden somewhere that might be in Italy, or he possibly has made up. Where is the play set? Hint

Padua

Parma

Palermo

Perugia

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. To attract the patronage of a nobleman for Burbage's theatre company, Will devises the new genre of romantic tragedy with his teen romance play. Who is the nobleman they are seeking to impress? Hint

Lord Derby

Lord Southampton

Lord Liverpool

Lord Newcastle

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Bristol

"Prince" Otello catches the eye of Kate, who goes diddly-do-dah over him, and gives him the pet sobriquet "Hottie". It's Kate that eventually finds "Hottie" out for the conman that he is, as all of his tales of derring-do are taken directly from Sir Walter Raleigh's book, 'The Discovery Of The Large, Rich And Beautiful Empire Of Guyana, With The Relation Of The Great And Golden City Of Minoa (Which The Spaniards Call Eldorado)'.

Answer: The Comedy of Errors

Will takes the somewhat convoluted plot of his comedy play involving two sets of identical twins, both separated at birth, and adapts it to fit the "life story" of Thomas Morley, giving "twice the Tommy". With a hit almost guaranteed, Will's nemesis Robert Greene uses his influence to have the production closed by getting Morley to withdraw his songs.

This leads to Will rewriting the show as "A Comedy of Mistakes, Misunderstandings and Coincidences".

3. Thomas Morley is the most popular madrigal writer of the time, making many young maids go diddly-do-dah, including Will's daughter Susanna, but who plays the flamboyant musical star?

Answer: Noel Fielding

Having made his name in the sitcom "The Mighty Boosh", and as a familiar face on panel shows including "Never Mind the Buzzcocks", Noel Fielding's role as Thomas Morley placed him in a different setting but portraying a character not far removed from his well known television persona.

Answer: His nipple ring

Kate's communion ring was an heirloom passed from her grandmother to her mother and thence to her. Kit Marlowe's nipple ring was likewise an heirloom that had adorned the nipples of his grandfather and father before him.

5. In addition to being a right roisterer, a "playwright" and all around dashing fellow, Kit Marlowe works for the head of England's secret service, but what is his boss's name?

Answer: Sir Francis Walsingham

Although his official title was "Secretary of State", meaning he was Queen Elizabeth I's principal advisor, Sir Francis Walsingham has become most known to history as her principal spymaster, responsible for ensuring the security of the Queen and her country from Catholic plots.

Answer: Will he get his Hampton Court?

Henry VIII, also known as All Is True, is dated to 1613, and was written by Shakespeare in collaboration with John Fletcher. It was during one of the earliest productions of the play, also in 1613, that a cannon shot led to the Globe Theatre burning down.

Answer: Will's father

The character that leads from Will's musings, Sir John Falstaff, appears as Prince Hal's ne'er do well companion in Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, and is eulogised in Henry V. In addition, he also appears as a lead character in The Merry Wives of Windsor.

8. Robert Greene, Master of the Revels and Chief Herald, is also a playwright and poet, perpetually desperate for a revival of his most celebrated work, but what is it called?

Answer: Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay

Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay, considered to be the most significant of Robert Greene's works, was written between 1588 and 1592, and was produced by Queen Elizabeth's Men amongst other theatre companies. In Upstart Crow, Greene is determined to have his play replace Will Shakespeare's work at Burbage's Red Lion Theatre.

9. Will decides to set his new comedy about a headstrong and gutsy maiden somewhere that might be in Italy, or he possibly has made up. Where is the play set?

Answer: Padua

Padua is the setting for The Taming of the Shrew, the play that appals Kate but for once impresses Marlowe and Bottom. In displaying her displeasure at Will, Kate invents a new phrase that is interpreted as "mail show Venice star soul".

Answer: Lord Southampton

Lord Southampton first appeared in Series 1 of Upstart Crow, initially mentioned as hosting the Saucy Prancings where Will wore purple puffling pants, yellow tights and really silly cross-garters, and subsequently as the 'Fair Youth' in the first 126 of Will's sonnets. In Upstart Crow, Lord Southampton is played by Adam Harley.

Source: Author Red_John

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
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