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Quiz about Blithe Spirit Noel Cowards Improbable Farce

Blithe Spirit - Noel Coward's "Improbable Farce" Quiz

How well do you know this perennial favourite by Noel ("The Master") Coward?

A multiple-choice quiz by LemonCurry. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
LemonCurry

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
210,500

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
450

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Noel Coward once described "Blithe Spirit" as being "Very gay, superficial comedy about a ______."? Hint

cuckold

mad medium

terribly distraught couple

ghost

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. "Blithe Spirit" opened in London on 2 July, 1941. Who played the role of Madam Arcati during this production? Hint

Margaret Rutherford.

Fay Compton

Gertrude Lawrence

Mildred Natwick

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Question 3 of 10

3. Charles couldn't have the Vicar and his wife at the seance "... because (a) they're dreary and (b) they __________."? Hint

probably wouldn't have approved at all

drink far too much

smell

become frightfully distraught at the vaguest hint of anything spritual

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Madam Arcati writes two sorts of books: "Rather whimsical children's stories about enchanted woods filled with highly conversational flora and fauna, and _________________."? Hint

excessively dull guides to the somewhat less conversational flora and fauna of west Sussex

rather useful cycling guides

hefty tomes on spiritual manifestations

enthusiastic biographies of minor royalties

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is the name of Madam Arcati's 'control'? Hint

Edith

Chief Rushing Wind

Princess Palliatini

Daphne

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Question 6 of 10

6. Before Elvira 'returned' to this mortal sphere she was playing backgammon with someone. To whom did she refer? Hint

Mendelssohn

Genghis Khan

Boadicea

Ethel Preedy

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who died on Whit Monday? Hint

Mrs. Plummet

Aunt Prunella

Colonel Sanbridge

Charles's cousin in the Civil Service

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. What accompanied the lemon sole with lunch? Hint

An hysterical mousse

A bottle of gin

An overabundance of brussels sprouts

A cheese thing

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. What did Lady Mackinley send to the Condomines from Burma? Hint

Nasturtium seeds

A recipe for spiced mutton

An awful shawl

A ghastly lamp

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. What connects Madam Arcati with Edith? Hint

A white bandage

They are sisters

Handcuffs

Their fondness for gin

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Noel Coward once described "Blithe Spirit" as being "Very gay, superficial comedy about a ______."?

Answer: ghost

As taken from Coward's diary for Apr 22 1941. He also felt that the play "...may be good."

2. "Blithe Spirit" opened in London on 2 July, 1941. Who played the role of Madam Arcati during this production?

Answer: Margaret Rutherford.

Madam Arcati was originally written as a small role for a rather eccentric female friend of Coward's. However, as the role grew in stature the part was given to a more 'seasoned' actor: Margaret Rutherfold, who could have been born to play the peculiar Madam A!

Gertrude Lawrence partnered Coward for a lot of his earlier musical works.

Fay Compton played Ruth in the original production.

Mildred Natwick played Madam Arcati in the original American production.

3. Charles couldn't have the Vicar and his wife at the seance "... because (a) they're dreary and (b) they __________."?

Answer: probably wouldn't have approved at all

Naturally Doctor Bradman and his wife would be far more likely to participate in a seance than the disapproving, dreary Vicar . . .

4. Madam Arcati writes two sorts of books: "Rather whimsical children's stories about enchanted woods filled with highly conversational flora and fauna, and _________________."?

Answer: enthusiastic biographies of minor royalties

The hero of Madam Arcati's latest book is a moss beetle . . .

5. What is the name of Madam Arcati's 'control'?

Answer: Daphne

Daphne was a young child when she 'passed over'. She had a fondness for Irving Berlin and non-rhyming nursery-rhymes.

6. Before Elvira 'returned' to this mortal sphere she was playing backgammon with someone. To whom did she refer?

Answer: Genghis Khan

Elvira described Genghis Khan as "... a very sweet old Oriental gentleman ...".

7. Who died on Whit Monday?

Answer: Mrs. Plummet

Old Mrs Plummet was rather deaf . . . Madam Arcati had to shout to make herself heard.

8. What accompanied the lemon sole with lunch?

Answer: A cheese thing

Ruth was trying to figure out the cause of Charles's "apparition". As he says - "Why should eating a cheese thing for lunch make me see my deceased wife after dinner?"

9. What did Lady Mackinley send to the Condomines from Burma?

Answer: An awful shawl

Elvira takes stock on the downfall of "her" house since her death. She doesn't approve of the shawl or the curtains or the nasturtiums . . .

10. What connects Madam Arcati with Edith?

Answer: A white bandage

Madam Arcati senses another strong psychic force within the house - but can only identitify it by a white bandage . . . the bandage that Edith gained after falling downstairs as a result of Elvira having spread axle grease on the top step . . . Ooooh! It's a lovely plot!

Source: Author LemonCurry

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