Gilbert and Sullivan Trivia

1. From "H.M.S. Pinafore", which song is this? "I grew so rich that I was sent By a pocket borough into Parliament. I always voted at my party's call, And I never thought of thinking for myself at all."

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan

Answer: When I was a lad

"H.M.S. Pinafore" was the fourth collaboration between Gilbert and Sullivan. It opened in London in 1878 and was popular not only in England but also in America. Like many of their operettas it pokes fun at the establishment of the time, in particular the English class system. "When I was a lad" charts the rise of Sir Joseph Porter from the time he joined a law firm in a position so lowly he "polished up the handle of the big front door", to becoming First Lord of the Admiralty. As he is at some pains to point out he accomplished all this without ever actually going to sea.

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan, A Little Light Music

Answer: He was in prison for flirting

So many people would have fallen foul of the death penalty for flirting that it was decided that the only way to deal with this was to appoint someone who "cannot cut off another's head, until he's cut his own off" (as Pish Tush explains). The character who performed in the Marine Parade was Nanki Poo, as Pitti Sing helpfully reminded Yum Yum.

From Quiz G&S Characters

Answer: "Makes oceans of potions"

He's a dealer in magic, spells, blessings, curses, ever-filled purses, prophecies, witches and knells. Among other things.

From Quiz G&S Little Details Quiz

Answer: Pepper

"And I'm a peppery kind of king who's indisposed for parleying".

From Quiz G&S 'Other Titles'

Answer: Ruddigore

The witch's curse is that every Murgatroyd must commit a crime a day or they'll die a horrible death at the hands of their ancestors. Funnily enough, the lead, Riwen Murgatroyd works out that refusing to commit the crimes, preferring death, is tantamount to suicide, which is a crime. So the Murgatroyds needn't have died!

From Quiz Ultimate Gilbert and Sullivan

Answer: Schwenck

William Schwenck Gilbert wrote the words for all of their operettas. He was well known for writing 'patter' songs...very wordy songs that got faster and faster with each verse. The most complicated of his patter songs is probably 'The Nightmare Song' from 'Iolanthe'.

From Quiz General G&S

Answer: Thespis

"Thespis" was first produced in 1871 and was declared a failure after only 160 performances. This opera is rarely produced anymore as all the music was lost.

From Quiz The Lost Songs of Gilbert and Sullivan

Answer: Yeomen of the Guard

This song is sung by Wilfred Shadbolt, the head jailer, when he is rejected by Phoebe.

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Sorcerer'

Answer: Alexis and Aline

'For to-day young Alexis - young Alexis Pointdextre, Is betrothed to Aline - to Aline Sangazure.'

From Quiz A General Gilbert and Sullivan Quiz

Answer: 14

Although only 13 of the operettas still exist, the pair created a total of 14. One of these, "Thespis", was a resounding failure, and the music was lost. However, Gilbert and Sullivan went on to create 13 more operettas - "Trial by Jury", "The Sorcerer", "HMS Pinafore", "The Pirates of Penzance", "Patience", "Iolanthe", "Princess Ida", "The Mikado", "Ruddigore", "The Yeoman of the Guard", "The Gondoliers", "Utopia Limited" and "The Grand Duke".

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan, A Little Light Music

Answer: A milkmaid

Patience is loved by rival poets Bunthorne and Grosvenor, but she herself has the rather more "earthy" job of village milkmaid. She is looked upon with scorn by the "Twenty love-sick maidens" (who are all of aristocratic stock) for her lack of refinement and appreciation of their art, but her dislike of poetry only serves to inflame the poets' desires.

From Quiz G&S Characters

Answer: The Duke of Plaza-Toro

The Duke is too old, and his daughter is the queen of Barataria, so... He most definitely isn't the king.

From Quiz G&S Little Details Quiz

Answer: 2

He first travels on a "steamer from Harwich", then a four-wheeler, and lastly and bicycle (crossing Salisbury Plain).

From Quiz G&S 'Other Titles'

Answer: The Statutory Duel

The "Statutory Duel" turns out to be a game of cards in which the loser has to leave town forever.

From Quiz Ultimate Gilbert and Sullivan

Answer: Seymour

Arthur Seymour Sullivan...his initials are A.S.S.! Sullivan was the composer of all of the operettas.

From Quiz General G&S

Answer: Iolanthe

Although "Patience" was the first show to be performed at the Savoy, "Iolanthe" was the first to have its premiere there. "Iolanthe" was also the first show to be lit entirely by electricity. The fairies all had small elecric lights on their costumes and some say that this is where the term 'fairy lights' comes from.

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan Opening Songs

Answer: The Gondoliers

The contadine sing to the bouquets of roses they are making, telling them that they all love the gondoliers Marco and Guiseppe, but unfortunately Marco and Guiseppe are only two people, while there are 24 contadine! Marco and Guiseppe will soon choose Gianetta and Tessa for their brides, but trouble will arise when Don Alhambra del Bolero reveals that one of them is the King of Barataria.

From Quiz The Lost Songs of Gilbert and Sullivan

Answer: Strephon

During rehersals for this opera, the opera and character "Iolanthe" were known as "Perola" to try to stop pirate performances. The names were not changed to "Iolanthe" until the final run at the Savoy.

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Sorcerer'

Answer: John Wellington Wells

'Oh! My name is John Wellington Wells, I'm a dealer in magic and spells.' The others are also characters from different Gilbert and Sullivan operettas - Mervyn Murgatroyd is a minor character in 'Ruddigore', Archibald Grosvenor is from 'Patience', and Richard Cholmondeley is from 'The Yeoman of the Guard'.

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan

Answer: Behold the Lord High Executioner

"The Mikado" was the ninth Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. It opened in London in 1885 and was so popular that it was estimated that by the end of that year some 150 separate productions were running worldwide. Set in Japan it was a thinly disguised satire of the British political system. "Behold the Lord High Executioner" is the song sung by Ko-Ko and the chorus. Ko-Ko is in fact a criminal condemned to death for flirting, so, because he was next in line to be executed, the town of Titipu appointed him Executioner. He cannot execute anyone until he has executed himself, and suicide is a crime. With this resolution in place the residents of Titipu can safely flirt with each other to their hearts content.

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan, A Little Light Music

Answer: Pilot

Ruth, the "stupid nursery maid", didn't quite catch what she was asked to do "through being hard of hearing" and so accidentally apprenticed Frederick to the Pirates of Penzance rather than into the respectable job of (ship's) pilot. This error, combined with her dogged loyalty to, and love for, her master, resulted in Ruth herself becoming a "kind of piratical maid of all work".

From Quiz G&S Characters

Answer: Ruddigore

The Murgatroyds in "Ruddigore" are the Bad Baronets mentioned below.

From Quiz G&S Little Details Quiz

Answer: The lady novelist & lady novelist

"And that singular anomaly, the lady novelist. Well, I don't think she'll be missed. I'm sure she'll not be missed!"

From Quiz G&S 'Other Titles'

Answer: HMS Pinafore

The title may seem at first to refer to the relationship between Josephine Corcoran and Ralph Rackstraw, but because of the twist at the end it refers to Little Buttercup and Captain Corcoran.

From Quiz Ultimate Gilbert and Sullivan

Answer: Thespis

Although not widely known, their first operetta together was 'Thespis'. This was followed by more successful shows such as 'Trial By Jury', 'H.M.S. Pinafore' and 'The Pirates of Penzance'.

From Quiz General G&S

Answer: Ivanhoe

Not often performed today, "Ivanhoe" was said to be one of Sullivan's greatest works.

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan Opening Songs

Answer: The Pirates of Penzance

The pirates are celebrating Frederick's coming of age - but as it emerges later on, since he was born on February 29, he has not had 21 birthdays: 'Though you've lived 21 years, yet, if we go by birthdays, you're only five, and a little bit over'. Will Frederick have to go back to his pirate life, or will he be able to lead a respectable existence with the wonderful Mabel? It will take a band of terrified policemen, a major-general and a deaf nursemaid to sort this one out.

From Quiz Write Your Own Gilbert & Sullivan Operetta

Answer: "...they were not as they are"

Yes sir, there's no arguing with that logic.

From Quiz Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Sorcerer'

Answer: philtre

Alexis: 'Aline, you misunderstand me. I didn't say a filter - I said a philtre.' Aline (alarmed): 'You don't mean a love-potion?' Alexis: 'On the contrary - I do mean a love-potion.'

From Quiz A General Gilbert and Sullivan Quiz

Answer: "The Grand Duke"

"Utopia Limited" was the second last operetta which the two created, while "The Gondoliers" was their last real success. "The Lost Chord" is not an operetta, but rather a ballad written by Sullivan.

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Last Updated Apr 13 2024 5:48 AM

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