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The Man Who Came to Dinner Trivia Quiz

A short quiz about a rather hilarious older comedy, written by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman!

A multiple-choice quiz by durikaj. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
durikaj

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
175,586

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
341

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is the first line of the play? Hint

Incompetent idiot!

Great dribbling cow!

Take your hands off me you fool!

Nurse Preen!

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Sheridan Whiteside's character is based upon famous theatre critic Alexander Woollcott.

True

False

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Question 3 of 10

3. In the play, on what date does Sherry make his radio broadcast? Hint

October 31

December 31

December 24

July 4

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Question 4 of 10

4. What type of animals does Whiteside receive as a Christmas gift? Hint

Cockroaches

Snakes

Penguins

Puppies

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Question 5 of 10

5. Whiteside dictates a number of telegrams in Act I. Which person does he NOT send a message to? Hint

The editor of the New York Times

President of Columbia Broadcasting

Mahatma Ghandi

Somerset Maugham

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Question 6 of 10

6. In the newer versions of the play, what is Whiteside's nickname for Mahatma Ghandi? Hint

He doens't have a nickname for him.

Baldy

Skinny

Boo Boo

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Question 7 of 10

7. What talent does Richard Stanley possess that his father thinks is a waste of time? Hint

Photography

Acting

Dancing

Singing

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Question 8 of 10

8. What activity were Maggie and Bert enjoying that surprised Whiteside? Hint

Ice skating

Having a snowball fight

Gardening

Christmas caroling

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Who plays Banjo in the 1942 film version of "The Man Who Came to Dinner?" Hint

Reginald Gardiner

Jimmy Durante

Richard Travis

Monty Wooley

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Question 10 of 10

10. The character of Beverly Carlton was modeled after what famous playwright? Hint

Noel Coward

Oscar Wilde

Tennessee Williams

Bertold Brecht

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is the first line of the play?

Answer: Great dribbling cow!

We hear Sheridan Whiteside from offstage as he berates his long-suffering Nurse Preen.

2. Sheridan Whiteside's character is based upon famous theatre critic Alexander Woollcott.

Answer: True

According to everything I've read about him, Woollcott was apparently a brash, abrasive, and completely pompous writer and theatre critic. Check out this website for a drawing of Woolcott, and see what his friends had to say about him! http://www.npg.si.edu/exh/caricatures/wool.htm

3. In the play, on what date does Sherry make his radio broadcast?

Answer: December 24

Whiteside makes his special Christmas Eve broadcast from the living room of the Stanley household, much to the dismay of Mr. Stanley!

4. What type of animals does Whiteside receive as a Christmas gift?

Answer: Penguins

Whiteside receives penguins from Admiral Byrd as a Christmas gift. He receives cockroaches from his friend Lentz as a gift to help him pass the time, but these are not a Christmas gift.

5. Whiteside dictates a number of telegrams in Act I. Which person does he NOT send a message to?

Answer: Somerset Maugham

Somerset Maugham does send Whiteside a Christmas present, but Whiteside only sends telgrams to the other three in Act I.

6. In the newer versions of the play, what is Whiteside's nickname for Mahatma Ghandi?

Answer: Boo Boo

Boo boo?? That cracks me up every time I hear it!

7. What talent does Richard Stanley possess that his father thinks is a waste of time?

Answer: Photography

Richard wants to make a living by taking photos. Whiteside encourages him to run away from home to pursue his dream.

8. What activity were Maggie and Bert enjoying that surprised Whiteside?

Answer: Ice skating

Richard and June say they saw Maggie and Bert ice skating. This enfuriates Whiteside, because it means he can't get any work done, since Maggie isn't around.

9. Who plays Banjo in the 1942 film version of "The Man Who Came to Dinner?"

Answer: Jimmy Durante

Banjo, based on real-life Marx Brother Harpo, was played by Jimmy Durante. Reginald Gardiner played Beverly Carlton; Richard Travis played Bert Jefferson; and Monty Wooley played Sheridan Whiteside. (cast data courtesy of the Internet Movie Database, www.imdb.com)

10. The character of Beverly Carlton was modeled after what famous playwright?

Answer: Noel Coward

Beverly visits Whiteside and ends up plotting with Maggie to get Lorraine Sheldon out of the house. Check out this NY Times review of the original film, starring Monty Wooley as Whiteside: http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=31097

Source: Author durikaj

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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