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Neil Simon Trivia

Neil Simon Trivia Quizzes

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If you're a fan of stage comedy, chances are you've seen at least one of the plays written by Neil Simon. Between his original plays and their screen adaptations, he was nominated for 17 Tony Awards and a number of Oscars, Golden Globes and Emmys for writing. 'The Odd Couple' was also adapted for a successful television show.
7 Neil Simon quizzes and 75 Neil Simon trivia questions.
1.
  "Barefoot in the Park"- A Play by Neil Simon   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I was in this play back in 2002 and it was my most enjoyable time time on the stage I have had. Neil's writing ability allows so much to come out of you when on the stage. Here are ten questions based on this extraordinary play.
Average, 10 Qns, Spaudrey, Sep 29 10
Average
Spaudrey
282 plays
2.
  "Odd Couple" Oddities   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A quiz on Neil Simon's hilarious play/movie, "The Odd Couple," created by me and my mother, who played Cecily in a stage production in 1977!
Average, 10 Qns, GabriellaGal, Jan 17 10
Average
GabriellaGal
447 plays
3.
  Lost in Yonkers    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
"Lost in Yonkers" is one of Neil Simon's greatest works to date. It is both serious and hysterically funny. If you haven't seen it performed, you really should!
Average, 10 Qns, regenbogen, Nov 27 07
Average
regenbogen
230 plays
4.
  (Neil) Simon Says    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
See how much you know about one of the most prolific american comic playwrights in our times: the always popular Neil Simon. The questions are all multiple choice.
Average, 10 Qns, stageman, Jun 17 05
Average
stageman
521 plays
5.
  "Rumors" by Neil Simon    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz about the play "Rumors" by Neil Simon.
Tough, 10 Qns, LaniLovesYew, Dec 21 07
Tough
LaniLovesYew
173 plays
6.
  Neil Simon's "Rumors"    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This show is HILARIOUS!
Tough, 15 Qns, youngjewdork04, Apr 15 06
Tough
youngjewdork04
347 plays
7.
  History of Neil Simon    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Test your knowledge of the funniest American playwright of the 20th century.
Tough, 10 Qns, Phoenix3000, Apr 24 06
Tough
Phoenix3000
442 plays
trivia question Quick Question
How many different wives did he have?

From Quiz "(Neil) Simon Says"




Related Topics
  Plays [Literature] (58 quizzes)


Neil Simon Trivia Questions
1. Which lead male actor was in both the play and the movie?

From Quiz "Odd Couple" Oddities

Answer: Walter Matthau

Walter Matthau portrayed Oscar Madison in both the movie and the stage play, and on Broadway was later replaced by Jack Klugman, who reprised the role in the "The Odd Couple" TV series.

2. What nationality is the Brock's cook, Mai Li?

From Quiz "Rumors" by Neil Simon

Answer: Chinese

"CLAIRE: Where is their cook, Mai Li? CHRIS: Oh, I think she's off this week. CLAIRE: On the week of their anniversary party? CHRIS: She went to visit her sick mother in Japan. CLAIRE: Mai Li is Chinese. CHRIS: I know... Her mother was visiting Japan when she got sick."

3. What was wrong with Aunt Gert?

From Quiz Lost in Yonkers

Answer: She had a hard time breathing.

Aunt Gert had a hard time breathing because when she was younger, she would talk in her sleep. Her mother didn't usually like what she was saying, so she wouldn't give her dinner that week. Gert had to learn how to sleep holding her breath.

4. What was his given name at birth?

From Quiz (Neil) Simon Says

Answer: Marvin

Marvin Neil Simon was born on July 4, 1927 the son of Irving & Mamie.

5. What part of Cookie's body is out of whack?

From Quiz Neil Simon's "Rumors"

Answer: her back

It consantly "goes out."

6. What are the last names of the two men who originated Neil Simon's alter-ego, Eugene, in his 'Brighton Beach' trilogy?

From Quiz History of Neil Simon

Answer: Broderick and Silverman & Silverman and Broderick

Broderick in 'Brighton Beach Memoirs' and 'Biloxi Blues' (he also starred in the film), and Silverman in 'Broadway Bound' (and the film version of 'Brighton').

7. A visitor from a utility comes to the apartment in both the first and third acts. Can you tell me what utility he works for?

From Quiz "Barefoot in the Park"- A Play by Neil Simon

Answer: Telephone

Specifically, the man was from AT&T. AT&T almost had a monopoly on the telephone business before they split into the "Baby Bells". And with the competition nowadays for your phone dollars, and in this age of product placement, one wonders how much they would have had to put down for that mention. The worker tells Corie his name is Harry Pepper, and if they "ever have trouble, please, don't ask for Harry Pepper". But he ends up coming back in the third act to fix the phone cord Paul ripped out of the wall in their heated argument in the second act.

8. Neil Simon wrote the play and screenplay. Another famous Neal wrote the music for the movie. (Note the different spelling!)

From Quiz "Odd Couple" Oddities

Answer: Hefti

Neal Hefti wrote the music, and received two Grammy nominations for his work on the television series of the same name. Neal Innes was another composer, Neil Patrick Harris is a prominent actor onstage and onscreen, and Neil Armstrong is an astronaut!

9. What kind of car do Claire and Lenny wreck?

From Quiz "Rumors" by Neil Simon

Answer: BMW

Lenny complains about his BMW having four doors on one side.

10. Why did Jay and Arty have to stay with their grandmother and aunt?

From Quiz Lost in Yonkers

Answer: Their father was out of money.

Arty and Jay's mother had been in a hospital for a long time, and the hospital bills had used up the last of their father's money. He needed to travel throughout the south selling scrap metal, and Jay and Arty couldn't go with him, so they were sent to live with their grandmother and Aunt Bella.

11. How many different wives did he have?

From Quiz (Neil) Simon Says

Answer: 4

He was actually married 5 times! (He divorced his third wife Dianne Landers in 1987 and then remarried her in 1990). His second wife was actress Marsha Mason, whom he divorced in 1982; and his current wife (as of September,2002) is actress Elaine Joyce. She is the widow of actor Bobby Van.

12. What was Simon's first play to be produced on Broadway?

From Quiz History of Neil Simon

Answer: 'Come Blow Your Horn'

Being the tale of two brothers sharing a bachelor pad.

13. On stage, the exact time frame isn't mentioned, but we do hear the month mentioned. From this information, can you tell me what season it is?

From Quiz "Barefoot in the Park"- A Play by Neil Simon

Answer: Winter

February is cold for New York, and they venture out a few times in the wintry temperatures. Victor insists that a scarf and a hat is all that is necessary for the sub zero temperatures.

14. What are the first names of The Pigeon Sisters?

From Quiz "Odd Couple" Oddities

Answer: Gwendolyn and Cecily

Is it Cecily and Gwendolyn or Gwendolyn and Cecily?

15. Who is calling from Venezuela?

From Quiz "Rumors" by Neil Simon

Answer: Harry and Joan

Glenn tries to coax Cassie from the powder room by informing her that "Your cousin Joan is calling from Venezuela!"

16. What was the name of Aunt Bella's fiance?

From Quiz Lost in Yonkers

Answer: Johnny

Grandma Kurnitz did not want Aunt Bella to get married to Johnny because he was mentally unstable and had a difficult time learning things, as did Bella. They would not survive very long on their own.

17. What was the first play he had produced on Broadway?

From Quiz (Neil) Simon Says

Answer: Come Blow Your Horn

It premiered in 1961 starring Pert Kelton and Lou Jacobi. "Barefoot In the Park" was 2nd, "The Odd Couple" was third, and "Sweet Charity" was 4th (but his first musical).

18. What gift do Lenny and Claire bring for Charlie and Myra?

From Quiz Neil Simon's "Rumors"

Answer: Steuben Glass

It broke in the car accident.

19. Paul arrives home from work for his first day in the new apartment. So much is wrong, it is easier to say what isn't wrong with this apartment. Hey, good question. What ISN'T wrong with the apartment?

From Quiz "Barefoot in the Park"- A Play by Neil Simon

Answer: There is no bathroom in the apartment; you go down the hall.

Surprise, they DO have a bathroom, but it is only a 3/4 bath, with no tub. This upsets Paul, he "likes baths". The heat isn't working and Paul discovers why it seems as cold inside as out, by finding the hole in the skylight. And later in the play Paul states they will be sleeping "from left to right", due to the bed and bedroom being so small.

20. What does Felix ask his poker buddies to please make sure to use?

From Quiz "Odd Couple" Oddities

Answer: coasters

It leaves little rings on the table!

21. What was the name of the cook's son in Lenny's story?

From Quiz "Rumors" by Neil Simon

Answer: Romero

"Downstairs was our Spanish cook Rosita, her Spanish sister, Ramona, and her Spanish son, Romero. They were preparing an Italian dinner."

22. When "The Odd Couple" premiered on Broadway, who starred in it with Walter Mathhau?

From Quiz (Neil) Simon Says

Answer: Art Carney

Mathhau also starred in the movie as the the slob Oscar Madison with Lemmon as the neat freak Felix Unger. The television series starred Jack Klugman as Oscar and Randall as Felix.

23. Where did Charlie shoot himself?

From Quiz Neil Simon's "Rumors"

Answer: ear & earlobe

Claire: "I have holes in my ears and it doesn't hurt."

24. Which film director originally directed the Simon play 'Barefoot in the Park'?

From Quiz History of Neil Simon

Answer: Mike Nichols

Nichols also directed 'Plaza Suite', among other Simon plays. Simon has connections to the other three {though;} he wrote on the 'Sid Caesar' show with Brooks, adapted a Wilder film to the stage, and has a good friendship with Allen.

25. There are more visitors to Paul and Corie's apartment in the first act, what are most of them doing when arriving at their door?

From Quiz "Barefoot in the Park"- A Play by Neil Simon

Answer: Breathing heavy from all the steps

"Six flights! Did you know it was six flights?" is Paul's opening line on stage, said in between panting. Apparently it is only five flights if you don't count the stoop. Regardless, it is a fair amount of stairs to take in a building with no elevator.

26. After Oscar throws the spaghetti - I mean, the linguine - on the wall, what does he say it is now?

From Quiz "Odd Couple" Oddities

Answer: garbage

To which Felix replies: "I'm not cleaning that up."

27. How old is Chris's kid?

From Quiz "Rumors" by Neil Simon

Answer: Six

"CHRIS: I have a six year old kid at home who acts better than we are!" LENNY: Then go get him and let HIM talk to the police!"

28. What had Uncle Louie done when he was younger that was still a record in Yonkers?

From Quiz Lost in Yonkers

Answer: ran away 12 times

The last time he ran away, Grandma Kurnitz told the police that she didn't know him. He had to live in an abandoned house in the middle of winter, and Bella took him food, even though Grandma caught her doing this several times.

29. Which play is actually 3 short plays about 3 different couples in the same hotel room?

From Quiz (Neil) Simon Says

Answer: Plaza Suite

It took place in the Plaza Hotel in New York City. "California Suite" is the same idea but it was actually 4 different plays and one of them has 2 bickering couples.

30. What play was Dr. Dudley seeing?

From Quiz Neil Simon's "Rumors"

Answer: Phantom of the Opera

He is very upset because he gets called out of it several times.

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