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All About "Allegro" Trivia Quiz

A quiz about Rodgers and Hammerstein's underrated musical play.

A multiple-choice quiz by dmnemaine. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
dmnemaine

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
274,415

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
12 / 20

Plays
217

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. According to the chorus in "Allegro's" opening number, where is Marjorie Taylor? Hint

in bed

on the porch

in a chair

standing on the floor

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Question 2 of 20

2. Grandma Taylor sings to the baby Joseph Taylor, Jr. about how hard it is to believe that such a tiny thing will grow into a man. What is the "home remedy" that Grandma mentions in her song that helps turn baby boys into men? Hint

molasses and sulphur

cod liver oil

castor oil

mustard plaster

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Question 3 of 20

3. "One Foot, Other Foot" and Joe, Jr. has learned to walk! He's also starting to get into things like any normal toddler would. The chorus mentions several things that Joe, Jr. can do now that he's walking. Which of the following do they not mention? Hint

"march around the yard"

"play among the flow'rs"

"imitate a dog"

"stride up and down around the town"

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Question 4 of 20

4. The first of three ballet sequences in "Allegro" is the "Children's Dance". Which of the lead characters dies shortly after this ballet? Hint

Grandma Taylor

Joseph Taylor, Sr.

Marjorie Taylor

Joseph Taylor, Jr.

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Question 5 of 20

5. What is the title of the recurring theme in "Allegro" that contains the lines "What to think, What to do, Where to go"? Hint

"Winters Go By"

"Wildcats"

"Pudgy Legs"

"Poor Joe"

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Question 6 of 20

6. According to Joseph Taylor, Sr. in "A Fellow Needs A Girl", what should a girl believe her fellow is? Hint

healthy and strong

wise and strong

meek and mild

brave and strong

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Question 7 of 20

7. The second of the three ballets is the "Freshmen Get Together" dance. What popular Rodgers and Hart song of the 1920s forms the basis for the music in this dance sequence? Hint

"Thou Swell"

"Manhattan"

"Mountain Greenery"

"My Heart Stood Still"

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Question 8 of 20

8. Now that Joe, Jr. is in college, we are introduced to the college football team in song. What is the name of that team? Hint

The Lynxes

The Bobcats

The Wildcats

The Cougars

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Question 9 of 20

9. During the "Scene Of Professors", how many professors are there? Hint

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Question 10 of 20

10. What is the name of the young lady who sings "So Far" to Joe, Jr.? Hint

Beulah

Hazel

Jennie

Millie

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Question 11 of 20

11. "You Are Never Away" is Joe Jr.'s big solo moment. He sings this love song to his childhood sweetheart, Jennie. By the way, what is Jennie's last name? Hint

Brinker

Townsend

Taylor

Denby

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Question 12 of 20

12. Joe's mother, Marjorie, is dead set against Joe marrying Jennie. What happens that paves the way for them to marry? Hint

Marjorie dies.

Marjorie learns that she and Jennie both have the same interests.

Jennie sends Marjorie flowers and wins her heart.

Joe Sr. tells his wife ot butt out of his son's life.

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Question 13 of 20

13. Who decides that although marriage might be a good idea for Joe, it isn't for him? Hint

Ned Brinker

Bigby Denby

Joe Taylor, Sr.

Charlie Townsend

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Question 14 of 20

14. The first act ends with a huge choral number. What three word phrase occurs multiple times in this number? Hint

"give them hell"

"wish them well"

"sing and yell"

"ring that bell"

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Question 15 of 20

15. In the song "Money Isn't Ev'rything", which of the girls sings most of the solo parts? Hint

Hazel

Addie

Millie

Dot

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Question 16 of 20

16. "Ya Ta Ta" takes place at a party in Joe and Jennie's home in Chicago. The people at the party are depicted as vacuous and shallow. According to Charlie, at what time of day do "the deep thinking gentlemen and ladies" "drink cocktails and knock tails"? Hint

6 pm

5 pm

10 pm

4 pm

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Question 17 of 20

17. Emily, Joe's long-suffering nurse, is in love with her boss. In "The Gentleman Is A Dope", what does Emily say the gentleman will do with a cake? Hint

let it pass without taking any

take a big piece and ask for more

take a crumb and never ask for more

take a little piece and never ask for more

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Question 18 of 20

18. The title song is also the lead-in to the third and final ballet sequence in "Allegro". According to the lyric of the song, we are supposed to "keep up the _______"? Hint

ink-a-dink-a-doo

hullabaloo

icka-backa

hocus-pocus

NEXT>

Question 19 of 20

19. Marjorie comes to her son in spirit, and tells him to do something in song. What is it that she tells him to do? Hint

"Take It Like A Man"

"Grin And Bear It"

"Come Home"

"Be Strong"

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Question 20 of 20

20. Joe eventually takes his mother's advice and leaves his lucrative practice in Chicago. What two other characters go with him? Hint

Marjorie and Joe, Sr.

Bigby Denby and Brook Landsdale

Jennie and their child

Charlie and Emily

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. According to the chorus in "Allegro's" opening number, where is Marjorie Taylor?

Answer: in bed

"Allegro" is a completely original work, one of only two such R&H works. The other is "Me And Juliet". "Oklahoma!" and "Carousel" are based on plays. "South Pacific" is based on a collection of short stories. "The King And I", "Pipe Dream", and "Flower Drum Song" are based on novels. "The Sound Of Music" is based on a German film, which was based on the memoirs of Maria von Trapp. "Cinderella" is based on the classic fairy tale. "State Fair" is based on a non-musical film, which in turn is based on a novel.

Answer: molasses and sulphur

Molasses and sulphur were used to "purify" the blood and make one feel better after a long winter.

Answer: "stride up and down around the town"

One of the innovative features of "Allegro" (for its time) is the use of a "Greek" chorus to comment on the action.

4. The first of three ballet sequences in "Allegro" is the "Children's Dance". Which of the lead characters dies shortly after this ballet?

Answer: Grandma Taylor

Agnes de Mille not only choreographed, but also directed "Allegro". To my knowledge, it is the first time the choreographer also served as director of a musical. (If I'm mistaken, I'm sure that one of you out there will correct me.)

5. What is the title of the recurring theme in "Allegro" that contains the lines "What to think, What to do, Where to go"?

Answer: "Poor Joe"

"Poor Joe" is sung by the chorus every time Joe faces a crisis in his relationship with Jennie.

6. According to Joseph Taylor, Sr. in "A Fellow Needs A Girl", what should a girl believe her fellow is?

Answer: wise and strong

"A Fellow Needs A Girl" is an interesting song. In the context of the time it was written, most people would have said that a man needed a woman for sexual pleasure, raise children, and keep house for him. This song takes a very progressive view for its day. It suggests that what a man really needs a woman for is to share his life.

7. The second of the three ballets is the "Freshmen Get Together" dance. What popular Rodgers and Hart song of the 1920s forms the basis for the music in this dance sequence?

Answer: "Mountain Greenery"

Richard Rodgers had a hugely successful partnership with lyricist Lorenz Hart for many years prior to his success with Oscar Hammerstein II. Their partnership dissolved due to Hart's excessive drinking, depression, and sudden unexplained disappearances, and his eventual untimely death.

8. Now that Joe, Jr. is in college, we are introduced to the college football team in song. What is the name of that team?

Answer: The Wildcats

"Wildcats" was purposely written to sound like a typical college fight song.

9. During the "Scene Of Professors", how many professors are there?

Answer: 5

The five are:
1) English
2) Chemistry
3) Greek
4) Biology
5) Philosophy

10. What is the name of the young lady who sings "So Far" to Joe, Jr.?

Answer: Beulah

At this point in the play so far (no pun intended), Joseph Taylor, Jr. has only sung a brief songlet during the freshmen dance sequence called "A Real Nice Campus". We have come more than halfway through the first act. This was another unusual thing about "Allegro", the main character has only one major solo in the entire play.

11. "You Are Never Away" is Joe Jr.'s big solo moment. He sings this love song to his childhood sweetheart, Jennie. By the way, what is Jennie's last name?

Answer: Brinker

Jennie Brinker sings even less than Joe, Jr. She has a brief solo in the first act where she is reading aloud from one of Joe's letters. In the second act, she is one of five women who sing "Money Isn't Ev'rything". Roberta Jonay, who originated the role of Jennie on Broadway, was a dancer, so the role of Jennie became a dancing role rather than a singing one.

12. Joe's mother, Marjorie, is dead set against Joe marrying Jennie. What happens that paves the way for them to marry?

Answer: Marjorie dies.

In the case of Joe and Jennie's marriage, this time Mother did know best.

13. Who decides that although marriage might be a good idea for Joe, it isn't for him?

Answer: Charlie Townsend

Charlie would rather "blow his dough on a causal chickadee" than get married.

14. The first act ends with a huge choral number. What three word phrase occurs multiple times in this number?

Answer: "wish them well"

It's interesting that the chorus sings about lovers being brave and happy, having faith in the future, etc. for a marriage that the audience obviously knows will probably be very shaky at best.

15. In the song "Money Isn't Ev'rything", which of the girls sings most of the solo parts?

Answer: Millie

"Money Isn't Ev'rything" is a wonderful use of irony. Although the girls keep repeating those words, everything else they say indicates that they really do think money is everything.

Answer: 5 pm

Perhaps Hammerstein's depiction of rich, jaded city people hit a little too close to home for many in "Allegro's" Broadway audience?

17. Emily, Joe's long-suffering nurse, is in love with her boss. In "The Gentleman Is A Dope", what does Emily say the gentleman will do with a cake?

Answer: take a crumb and never ask for more

Emily was played by "Kiss Me, Kate" star, Lisa Kirk, in the original Broadway production. Kirk played Lois Lane in "Kiss Me, Kate".

18. The title song is also the lead-in to the third and final ballet sequence in "Allegro". According to the lyric of the song, we are supposed to "keep up the _______"?

Answer: hullabaloo

Joe, Charlie, and Emily are disillusioned with big city life.

19. Marjorie comes to her son in spirit, and tells him to do something in song. What is it that she tells him to do?

Answer: "Come Home"

Many people thought "Allegro" was a condemnation of city life, when in actuality, the message of the piece is that one should never forget the simple things, no matter where one is.

20. Joe eventually takes his mother's advice and leaves his lucrative practice in Chicago. What two other characters go with him?

Answer: Charlie and Emily

In the finale, the chorus reprises "One Foot, Other Foot" to symbolize that Joe is starting his life anew.

Source: Author dmnemaine

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