Theatre Quiz 2005
THE THEATRE QUIZ 2005
21 December 2005
6.00pm Lyttelton Theatre
Quizmistress:
Emma Freud
Once in a Lifetime
Adrian Scarborough (Team Captain)
Tim McMullan
Lloyd Hutchinson
Victoria Hamilton
Pillars of the Community
Lesley Manville (Team Captain)
Damian Lewis
Paul Moriarty
Joseph Millson
Scorer:
Samantha Spiro
A round based on productions seen over the past year… hands on buzzers, get ready, yes this is really happening, a quick fire round, two points for a correct answer; first question…
1) Which Northern lad danced his way from the screen into the Victoria Palace?
Billy Elliot.
2) And which Tim Burton tale danced its way from the screen into Sadler's Wells?
Edward Scissorhands, in Matthew Bourne's adaptation of Burton's film.
3) What festive bird is being served up at the Donmar?
Wild Duck, the current revival of Ibsen's play.
4) Why can't Richard E Grant answer the phone at the moment?
Because he's Otherwise Engaged – Simon Gray's play currently at the Criterion.
5) Which leggy blonde left her show, citing glandular fever, shortly after receiving dubious notices?
Jerry Hall – left the musical High Society.
'She can't act for toffee. Or sing. Or dance. It's like watching a little girl in a school play, hopelessly awkward but smiling sweetly,' said the Independent.
6) Who has just appeared in triplicate at the Royal Court?
Juliet Stevenson in The Alice Trilogy.
7) The Royal Shakespeare Company has bounced back into London (and hopefully will be back in the Quiz next year…), but which other 'RSC' left London after a stint of nine years?
The Reduced Shakespeare Company.
8) Who is seducing his brother's lady at the Comedy Theatre?
Joseph Fiennes – playing opposite Ralph Fiennes' partner, Francesca Annis, in An Epitaph for George Dillon.
9) In an RSC production this year, who is credited as co-author alongside Anthony Munday and Henry Chettle?
William Shakespeare.
10) For which play?
Thomas More.
11) And who is also currently playing the same title character?
Martin Shaw as Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons.
12) Who bowed out with Prospero?
Mark Rylance's last role was Prospero in The Tempest before leaving the Globe where he has been Artistic Director since its opening.
13) Which radical writer made his professional acting debut in his own play?
Mark Ravenhill in Product in Edinburgh and then the Royal Court.
14) Which distinguished actress is currently wearing a fading wedding dress for the RSC?
Sian Phillips as Miss Haversham in Great Expectations at Stratford.
15) Three of the McGann acting clan appeared in Ray and Michael Cooney's Tom, Dick and Harry – but which three?
Joe, Stephen and Mark (not Paul)
16) Sabre took over the leading role in The Right Size's Ducktastic!, but who did she take over from?
Daphne (he duck), who was stolen during previews.
17) The Three Degree's Sheila Ferguson starred in a short-lived musical version of which classic tale?
The Man in the Iron Mask, adapted as Behind the Iron Mask
18) Max Stafford Clark directed an important reportage play at the Royal Court, but who were we talking to?
…Terrorists in Robin Soan's Talking to Terrorists.
19) Which actress has been married to a salesman and is now flirting with a preacher?
Clare Higgins – played Linda in Death of a Salesman and is now Maxine in Night of the Iguana.
20) The newly named Novello Theatre, was formally known as…?
The Strand Theatre
21) Who are the three heroes of the West End?
Ken Stott, Richard Griffiths and John Hurt in Gerald Sibleyras' Heroes at the Wyndhams.
22) And who did Richard Griffiths say should be 'publicly executed' for their offences to the theatre?
Mobile phone users who don't turn their phone off during performances.
You're going to hear the names of some famous television characters from both the US and the UK. The actors who played them have appeared on the London stage this year. Can you name the actor, their television programme and the London show that they have appeared in.
(further clues in brackets).
1. Ross Geller (a palaeontologist…? with a lot of friends…?)
Answer: David Schwimmer (Ross Geller in Friends) who appeared in Neil LeBute's Some Girl(s)
2. Jean-Luc Picard? (Boldly goes…? Captain of the Enterprise…?)
Answer: Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek: The Next Generation) who appeared in A Life in the Theatre and is currently in his one-man Christmas Carol.
3. Samantha Jones? (a sexy city dweller…?)
Answer: Kim Cattrall (Samantha Jones in Sex in the City) who appeared in Whose Life is it Anyway.
4. Tim Canterbury? (An office boy from Slough…?)
Answer: Martin Freeman (Tim in The Office) appeared in Blue Eyes and Heels at the Soho Theatre.
5. Irene Forsyte?
Answer: Gina McKee (Irene Forsyte in the recent version of The Forsyte Saga) appeared here in the Lyttelton in Brian Friel's Aristocrats.
6. Woody Boyd? (a Boston bartender…? Cheers…?)
Answer: Woody Harrelson (who played his namesake Woody in Cheers), currently playing Shannon in The Night of the Iguana.
7. King Edward VIII?
Answer: Edward Fox (Edward in Edward and Mrs Simpson in 1978) currently appearing in Bernard Shaw's You Never Can Tell.
or Stephen Campbell Moore (Edward in Wallis and Edward shown last weekend), who played Irwin in the original cast of The History Boys.
8. King Edward VIII? Again…
Answer: Stephen Campbell Moore (Edward VIII in Wallis and Edward shown last weekend), who played Irwin in the original cast of The History Boys.
or Edward Fox (Edward in Edward and Mrs Simpson in 1978) currently appearing in Bernard Shaw's You Never Can Tell
9. Sam Seaborn? (Senior Counsellor to the President…? Martin Sheen…?)
Answer: Rob Lowe (White House Councellor Sam Seaborn in The West Wing), who appeared in A Few Good Men.
10. Elaine Vassal? (a legal secretary…? inventor of the 'face bra'…?)
Answer: Jane Krakowski (Elaine the secretary in Ally McBeal) who played Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls.
11. And finally, Chrissy Watts will be appearing where in the new year? (an Albert Square resident…)
Answer: ASK SAM for answer! Tracey Ann Oberman, who will be taking over from Sam Spiro in Mike Leigh's Two Thousand Years here in the Lyttelton!
Now we have the Hidden Titles Round. Each team will read a scene, which contains eight cunningly hidden play titles… The other team must try and identify as many of the plays as possible.
2 points for each correct answer
Firstly – Once in a Lifetime open your envelopes; they are going to read a scene for Pillars to listen to, and you're playing a young married couple in late 19thcentury Norway and their two children. Pillars team, pick up your pens and try and identify the eight Ibsen plays.
Thank you, Victoria…
Victoria: Torvald, I've made my decision.
Adrian: But, Nora, my sweet, it's too soon.
Victoria: No, Torvald, I went for a walk along the shore and I thought it through.
Adrian: Sometimes, Nora, I think you're a very strange lady.
Victoria: From the sea-side, I could see it all clearly. It was as if I could hear my mother calling me from across the fjord.
Adrian: Nora, you'll be telling me you've been seeing ghosts next!
Victoria: No, Torvald, you don't understand. I could hear my mother's voice… she always said she'd speak to me from the grave, she used to say that when we dead awaken, we come back to haunt our children.
Tim: Mama! Mama! Where have you been?
Victoria: Children, Mama needs you to go to bed early tonight.
Lloyd: But mama, why are you being so horrid to daddy?
Tim: You're treating him like he was an enemy!
Victoria: Of the people, children, but never of us.
Adrian: Off to bed children. I need to talk to your mother. You can play with your new toys once you are in your pajamas.
Victoria: Did your father buy you new toys?
Lloyd: Yes, daddy bought us a doll's house.
Victoria: Off to bed children.
Tim: Good night, mama.
Lloyd: Good night!
Victoria: Good night, children. You spoil them, Torvald, like you try to spoil me… but not any more. I'm leaving and when I slam that door you will never see me again.
Adrian: Nora, surely we can put our marriage back together? Surely we can rebuild it?
Victoria: It would take a master builder to make anything of the rubble of our lives.
Adrian: You can't go. Nora, you mustn't leave me… I'll do anything to keep you. I'll buy you anything. The best Paris fashions, the finest silks…
Victoria: No, Torvald, I have made my decision and I am leaving. Goodbye, Torvald.
Adrian: But, Nora, I'll buy you anything. Surely that will make you stay… we're not just pretenders to a happy marriage?
Victoria: Oh, dear Torvald, when will you understand that I'm not your little doll and I don't need expensive clothes – I'm much happier in the cheapest brand.
Answers:
2 points for each correct answer
• The Lady from the Sea
• Ghosts
• When We Dead Awaken
• An Enemy of the People
• A Doll's House
• The Master Builder
• The Pretenders
• Brand
Now, would Once in a Lifetime please pick up your pens and Pillars open your envelopes: another unearthed masterpiece, this time a newly discovered scene from an American classic. Once in a Lifetime team, you are listening out for eight plays co-written by George S Kaufman.
The scene is Hollywood, Lesley is a wisecracking voice coach and Damian, Paul and Joe are three beautiful, glamorous Hollywood starlets – all with remarkably high squeaky voices.
Lesley: Now ladies, please repeat after me 'She sells sea shells from the sea shore'
Damian: 'She shells she shells…' Miss Daniels, we can't say anything as complicated as that!
Lesley: Of course you can, ladies. And if you want to be successful actresses in this town, you'd better try.
Paul: Uh, I much preferred it when the movies were silent.
Joe: Yeah! None of this talking business.
Damian: And the bosses want us to talk so grand – who do they think we are – the royal family or something?
Lesley: No ladies, they just want the audience to understand you. And to talk like people from the legitimate theatre.
Joe: I used to date a fella from the legitimate theatre. He looked so cute on stage, but when I met him after the show in the restaurant… well, let's just say that the man who came to dinner looked a lot less cute than the guy I saw on the stage!
Paul: I can never understand anyone in the theatre anyhow. I once went to see something called 'Aida' – I couldn't understand what the hell was going on! After one night at the opera, I never went again.
Lesley: Ladies! Please can we concentrate on our lesson?
Damian: Miss Daniels, can't we do something else? I'm bored with these tongue twisters.
Lesley: All right, ladies, merrily we roll along to the next lesson: breath control.
Joe: Yuk, Miss Daniels, what's that?
Lesley: It's a technique which will teach you to speak well.
Paul: And will we get better parts because of 'breath control'?
Lesley: You'll all be stars before you know it. The studio bosses will shower you with gifts.
Damian: Yeah, I want a shiny new trailer.
Paul: And I want a house in Beverley Hills.
Joe: I'd be happy with a solid gold Cadillac.
The ladies giggle.
Lesley: Ladies! Please concentrate on your vocal work and worry about the material rewards later. Cars and houses are all very well in this world, but remember that you can't take it with you into the next.
Damian: Then what the hell are we doing this for, Miss Daniels?
Lesley: Movies provide happiness and distraction to the average man in the street.
Joe: Hah! All the average man in the street wants to do is look at my legs and they don't care what I sound like.
Paul: Yeah, what would make me more appealing to the American public is a new pair of silk stockings.
Damian: Our time is up now, Miss Daniels. We have to go to the staff canteen and get our lunch.
Lesley: All right, ladies, same time tomorrow. You go get your lunch and try not to choke on it.
Joe: Oh, we won't Miss Daniels, we only eat soup.
Paul: It helps us keep our figures.
Damian: And we only put a little bit of garnish on top.
Joe: A few little crackers.
Lesley: Or in your case, ladies, animal crackers.
Ladies: Hah!
Answers:
• The Royal Family with Edna Ferber
• The Man Who Came to Dinner with Moss Hart
• A Night at the Opera for the Marx Brothers
• Merrily We Roll Along with Moss Hart
• The Solid Gold Cadillac with Howard Teichmann
• You Can't Take It With You with Moss Hart
• Silk Stockings with Cole Porter
• Animal Crackers (for the Marx Brothers) with Morrie Ryskind
(bonus points for identifying which three plays were co-written with Moss Hart – The Man Who Came to Dinner, Merrily We Roll Along and You Can't Take it With You)
Round Four: “Wigs and Frocks”Thanks to the National's Costume and Wig departments for this next round.
Flowing multi-coloured Seventies dress
Answer:
From Theatre of Blood
Worn by Rachel Sterling as Miranda
Camel coloured flared man's suit
Answer:
Also from Theatre of Blood
Also worn by Rachel Sterling as Miranda
Wigs:
Answer:
Henry IV
Susan Brown as Mistress Quickly
Answer:
The House of Bernarda Alba
Penelope Wilton as Bernarda Alba
Answer:
Theatre of Blood
Sally Dexter as Chloe Moon
Answer:
The UN Inspector
Geraldine James as Anna Andreyevna
No, here's a round kindly donated by the National's Sound Department… teams, you are going to hear two sound effects – all heard at the National in the past year…
Buzz in as fast as you can, two points for the correct production and a bonus if you can tell us exactly what it is…
Answer 1: Corum Boy
(Otis' horse galloping)
Answer 2: Paul
(cell door slamming)
Actors often say that they never read their reviews, so it is time to put that theory to the test. This round comes courtesy of the National's Press Office. Teams, you're going to hear a series of quotes and you must identify who on this stage right now that the reviewer is referring to. Remember it could be anyone on the stage. Hands on buzzers…
Question: Who did the Guardian say was “a young Kevin Kline in his ability to mix romantic dash and comic absurdity”
Answer: Joe in Dog in the Manger
Question: Who did the Telegraph call a “fast-rising, carrot-topped actor”?
Answer: Damian in Pillars of the Community
Question: According to Charles Spencer, who is the “dark, petite actress with the 'period bust'”?
Answer: Victoria in As You Like It
Question: Who did Michael Billington call a “bookish fascist”?
Answer: Paul in Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads
Question: Who was described as being “bright as a bird of paradise” by the Observer?
Answer: Lesley in Pillars of the Community
Question: Who does Oxford Dictionary of Rhyming Slang offer as rhyming slang for haemorrhoids?
Answer: Emma, as in “Oooh, my Emma Freuds aren't 'arf playin' up”.
Question: Who did the Independent describe as 'a straight version of Liberace'
Answer: Adrian in Once in a Lifetime
Question: Who did the Telegraph call “a glammed-up gorgon”
Answer: Sam in Two Thousand Years
Which leaves us with Lloyd and Tim…
Question: Which of the two was “pitch perfect” and which was “rock solid”?
Answer: The Spectator described Tim as “pitch perfect. It's worth seeing just for him.” in A Midsummer Night's Dream at Regent's Park and Lloyd was “rock-solid and quietly pained” in The Night Season according to the Independent.
Given that they are here at the National for the festive season, our teams may not know so much about the world of panto, but with more and more 'legit' actors appearing in pantomime each year, perhaps they should take note. In true panto style, I want a particular response to the following statements, namely “Oh yes it is” or “Oh no it isn't” or “Oh no he isn't” or “Oh yes she is” etc etc etc
1. Widow Twankey is Ian McKellan's first panto role
Oh NO it isn't!
Bonus: what was his previous panto appearance?
Sir Ian played TeeVee in a production of Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp in 1962 in Ipswich
2. Victor Meldrew is father to two ugly daughters
Oh YES he is!
Richard Wilson is Baron Hardup in Cinderella at Wimbledon
Bonus: Which production marked Wilson's directorial debut on Broadway this year?
Antony Sher's adaptation of Primo
3. Frances Barber is appearing in drag
Oh YES she is!
She's playing Dim Sum in Aladdin at the Old Vic
4. Clive Rowe is starring in Croydon
Oh NO he isn't!
He is appearing at the Hackney Empire as Dame Trot
5. Dr Who's Captain Jack is very charming
Oh YES he is!
John Barrowman makes his panto debut as Prince Charming at Wimbledon
6. Danny La Rue wants to appear in panto with Wayne Sleep
Oh NO he doesn't!
… He wants to appear with Ian McKellan as the Ugly Sisters
7. Simon Callow is offering new lamps for old
Oh YES he is!
… he's playing Abanazer in Aladdin at Richmond
Bonus: Who's playing the same role at the Old Vic?
Roger Allam
8. Susan Hampshire is Cinderella's wicked stepsister
Oh NO she isn't!
She is, of course, Cinderella's fairy godmother in Wimbledon.
Bonus: Which member of the Forsyte clan did she play in the sixties?
Fleur
In this round, courtesy of the National Theatre Bookshop, I am going to ask Sam to read the last lines of eight shows seen here at the National in the past year. Teams, hands on buzzers and buzz in as soon as you think you know what it is. Sam, the first last line, please…
1. (Northern) Pass it on, boys. That's the game I wanted you to learn. Pass it on.
Answer: The History Boys by Alan Bennett
2. (Spanish) The youngest daughter... she died a virgin. Did you hear me? Silence, silence, I said. Silence!
Answer: The House of Bernarda Alba by Federico Garcia Lorca
3. (Regal) I heard a bird so sing,
Whose music, to my thinking, pleased the King.
Come, will you hence?
Answer: Henry IV Part Two by William Shakespeare
4. (RP) Come and see me when we move into the National. I'm sure we can find some funding for you to workshop a few ideas.
Answer: Theatre of Blood by Lee Simpson and Phelim McDermott
5. (posh) Go, Aaron. Go and sing.
Answer: Coram Boy by Jamila Gavin
6. (Cuban) Fidel... we have logic and we have reason on our side.
Answer: The President of an Empty Room by Steven Knight
7. (Irish) They're cutting it close then. Jaysus, they're cutting it very close.
Answer: Aristocrats by Brian Friel
8. (holy) Christ is risen, Christ is risen, Christ is risen, Christ is risen, Christ is risen, Christ is risen, Christ is risen, Christ is risen, Christ is risen, Christ is risen…
Answer: Paul by Howard Brenton
The winners were Pillars of the Community
Scores:
Pillars: 62
Lifetime: 54
Audience: 21
Theatre Quiz 2005 finished on: 21 December 2005
