A Sondheim Quiz

I love to watch musicals. And, word play along with intricate music and creativity are what drives me to watch them over and over again. Few composers can command the English language as well as Stephen Sondheim.

Here is a small quiz to see who the true Sondheim fans are. The first half is comprised of multiple choice questions, followed by short answer or fill in the blanks. Enjoy!!

Part I. Multiple Choice

1. Ironically, with what other composer does Sondheim share the same birthday?

A. Oscar Hammerstein
B. Cole Porter
C. Andrew Lloyd Weber
D. George Gershwin

2. What actor played the fast talking purveyor of courtesans, Marcus Lycus, in the movie version of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum?

A. Phil Silvers
B. Jack Guilford
C. Buster Keaton
D. Michael Crawford

3. True or False: Stephen Sondheim's less well-known foray into writing a mystery movie starred Richard Benjamin?

A. True
B. False

4. What was the name of the mystery from question number 3?

A. Scream of Fear
B. The Last of Sheila
C. Nightmare
D. The Seventh Victim

5. Which of Sondheim's plays is done in backwards order?

A. Anyone Can Whistle
B. Follies
C. Passion
D. Merrily We Roll Along

6. What sitcom actress performed as Amy in Sondheim's show Company?

A. Beth Howland
B. Megan Mullally
C. Bernadette Peters
D. Angela Lansbury

Part II. Short Answer

7. Who played the lead role of Pseudolus in the original broadway production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum?

8. In the remake of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, what comedienne played the role of Pseudolus after Nathan Lane left the role?

9. Who provides the voice of Rose's father on the original cast album of Gypsy?

For the next set of questions, I will include the name of 3 songs, you name the show.

10. The Ballad of Booth, Gun Song, How I Saved Roosevelt
11. Comedy Tonight, Free, Everybody Ought to Have a Maid
12. Let me Entertain You, You Gotta Get a Gimmick, If Momma was Married
13. Worst Pies in London, A Little Priest, God That's Good
14. Hello Little Girl, Agony, Ever After
15. A Weekend in the Country, You Must Meet My Wife, Send in the Clowns
16. I Feel Pretty, Tonight, One Hand One Heart
17. Putting it Together, The Day Off, Sunday
18. Not a Day Goes By, Old Friends, Good Thing Going

Part III. For the last two questions, I am going to give you the show and the Song. Fill in the blanks

19. From Westside Story's Officer Krupke: "Dear kindly Judge, your Honor, My parents treat me rough. With all their _______________, They won't give me a puff. They didn't wanna have me, But somehow I was had. Leapin' lizards! That's why I'm so bad!"

20. (Two missing words) From Assassins - Ballad of Booth: "How could you do it,Johnny, Calling it a cause? You left a legacy Of butchery And treason we Took eagerly, And thought you'd get applause. But traitors just get jeers and boos, Not visits to their graves, While Lincoln, who got _________ ____________, Beacause of you, John, now gets only raves."

Answers:

Part I

1. C
2. A
3. A
4. B
5. D
6. A

Part II

7. Zero Mostel
Trivia Note: The show's creators originally wanted Phil Silvers in the lead role of Pseudolus, but he turned them down, so did Milton Berle.
8. Whoopi Goldberg
9. Stephen Sondheim
10. Assassins
11. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
12. Gypsy
13 Sweeney Todd
14. Into the Woods
15. A Little Night Music
16. Westside Story
17. Sunday in the Park with George
18. Merrily we Roll Along

Part III

19. Marijuana
20. Mixed Reviews