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Quiz Answers

Part I: Name the Stephen Sondheim musicals from which the following songs were cut during try-outs.
  1. "Can That Boy Foxtrot!" (Follies)
  2. "There Won't Be Trumpets" (Anyone Can Whistle)
  3. "Momma's Talkin' Soft" (Gypsy)
  4. "Happily Ever After" (Company)
  5. "Love is in the Air." (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum)
Part II: Short answer
  1. If you have a seed and a plow or two, and a bull that's keeping company with a cow or two -- well, what do you have?

    2. "Plenty of Pennsylvania," a song from Plain and Fancy.
  2. The title role of this 1966 musical was adapted to fit many leading ladies' strengths and perceived strengths; Ann Miller, subbing for the original Broadway star, even tap danced one of her numbers -- and I'd kill to know what Edward Tanner had to say about that. Name the show -- and Tanner's relationship to it.

    3. "Mame," based on Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis -- Tanner's pen name.
  3. Why when I speak does he vanish? Why is he acting so clannish? Turns out he's -- the title of this song. Hint: The song's lyricist also collaborated with the composer's father and was mentored by the composer's father's best-known partner. Got that?

    4. "The Boy From --" a song written by Mary Rodgers and, yes, Stephen Sondheim.
  4. Before he played Milwaukee's most avuncular father on television, he saved a city from graft and corruption. The name's . . . ? (Actor and character, please.)

    5. Tom Bosley was the title character in Fiorello! (As in Laguardia).
  5. If Laura Lippman and Tess Monaghan were to sing a duet*, it would have to be this smartly cynical song of duality that closed the first act of this 1989 musical. Name the song and the show.

    6. "You're Nothing Without Me," from City of Angels. (*And if this happens, please pry the cocktail from my clammy hand and stage an intervention ASAP.)

Part III: Short Essay (Choose one):
  1. What does it feel like to finish the hat? And isn't it possible that there are one or two women out there who understand what it is to finish the hat and will still wait for you after you've finished the hat? George, have you ever considered the fact that you're just a colossal pain in the ass? Look at her, George -- Dot, as embodied by Bernadette Peters at her most glorious. Creamy shoulders, amazing cleavage. I'd take her to the Follies, George. What's your problem?

    2. Bill Hirschman:
    To hell with the Follies (unless Barbara Cook was appearing). I'd take her to Maxim's for Dom Perignon, then to the Moulin Rouge for a can-can, and then to Notre Dame to watch the sun come up over the Seine. You can finish the hat later. The hat will still be there. She might not. More importantly, Life might not still be there. The opportunity to immortalize Life always will be.

    Or:

  2. How many bullets are left in the gun, Chino? Feel free to justify your answer with reams of pedantic information on firearms, circa 1957.

    3. Bryon Quertermous: Who needs bullets when we can kill each other with hate?

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