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The Realm of "Topsy Turvy"-dom Quiz

Here is a short quiz for the few Gilbert and Sullivan lovers and experts out there. It is based on my favorite movie, "Topsy Turvy".

A multiple-choice quiz by jen721. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
jen721

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
208,689

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
144

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was written in the "Times" about Gilbert (after the first performance of "Princess Ida") that made him so upset? Hint

His future operas will not be a sucess at the Savoy.

He is the king of the realm of topsy turvy-dom.

Sullivan was better at writing the music than Gilbert, who wrote the opera badly.

He needs to hire new actors to make his operas better.

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Which of these real actors for the Savoy theater did not appear as a character in the movie? Hint

John Reed

Richard Temple

Rutland Barrington

Leonora Braham

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Which role in "H.M.S Pinafore" did Richard Temple play? Hint

Dick Deadeye

Sir Joseph Porter K.C.B.

Ralph Rackstraw

Captain Corcoran

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. At the end of the movie, which soon-to-come opera was Lucy Gilbert hinting at while talking to her husband in bed? Hint

The Gondoliers

The Yeoman of the Guard

Ruddigore

The Grand Duke

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. What prevented Mr. Grossmith and Mr. Barrington from getting raises in salary? Hint

They were convinced that they were better than everyone else and didn't need a bigger salary to prove it

They were almost fired from the acting company

The fact that they had eaten too many oysters at lunch

They were repeatedly interrupted by Gilbert

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. What was Ms. Braham's main problem? Hint

She had a son

She was a prostitute

She took drugs

She was an alcoholic

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What were the two biggest problems during the creation of "The Mikado", accoring to the movie? Hint

Choreography and salaries

Acting Japanese and music

Acting Japanese and costumes

Music and finding extra actors

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Who were the two people working with Gilbert and Sullivan who, according to the movie, were most important to the acting company. Hint

Helen Lenoir and Richard D'Oyly Carte

George Grossmith and Richard Temple

Richard Barker and Richard D'Oyly Carte

Richard Barker and Helen Lenoir

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. What happened, before opening night of "The Mikado", that made the entire cast plead with Gilbert to change his mind? Hint

Leonora Braham was fired

Richard Temple's main aria was cut

Richard Temple's role was cut

George Grossmith quit because of Gilbert's temper

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Who said the following, "There's something inherently disappointing about success." Hint

Sir Arthur Sullivan

Richard Temple

George Grossmith

W.S. Gilbert

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was written in the "Times" about Gilbert (after the first performance of "Princess Ida") that made him so upset?

Answer: He is the king of the realm of topsy turvy-dom.

"Princess Ida" was, in fact, one of Gilbert and Sullivan's worst reviewed operas, yet it still attracted audiences far and wide for many months. It may have been the fact that it was the longest of their operas that made it one of the least popular, but the writer and composer were saved when they did "The Mikado".

2. Which of these real actors for the Savoy theater did not appear as a character in the movie?

Answer: John Reed

John Reed is one of the more famous actors in many Gilbert and Sullivan operas, but he is not seen in the movie because he acted in later performances of the operas, in the 1900s.

3. Which role in "H.M.S Pinafore" did Richard Temple play?

Answer: Dick Deadeye

Dick Deadeye is one of my favorite characters in "H.M.S. Pinafore" - he is a sailor who is jealous of Ralph and tries to stop him from escaping with the Captain's daughter, Josephine. He has a fantastic number with the Captain towards the end of the opera.

4. At the end of the movie, which soon-to-come opera was Lucy Gilbert hinting at while talking to her husband in bed?

Answer: Ruddigore

What Lucy was saying in that scene showed that she was trying to point out the fact that they had never had a child; it was obvious that their marriage was going downhill. But she did suggest a few ideas that were eventually used in "Ruddigore", such as the many doors and ticking clocks.

5. What prevented Mr. Grossmith and Mr. Barrington from getting raises in salary?

Answer: The fact that they had eaten too many oysters at lunch

I haven't the slightest idea whether it is true that they weren't able to raise their salaries because of a few oysters, but it was a very clever and funny way to show why they didn't get salary raises in the movie. By eating too many oysters, both Grossmith and Barrington became violently ill during their interviews with Mr. D'Oyly Carte just as they were asking about raises in their salaries.

6. What was Ms. Braham's main problem?

Answer: She was an alcoholic

Richard D'Oyly Carte told her many times during her career that she had to stop drinking or she could not perform. She pretended to stop during the rehearsals for "The Mikado", but never did. This is shown in the last scene of the movie.

7. What were the two biggest problems during the creation of "The Mikado", accoring to the movie?

Answer: Acting Japanese and costumes

As shown in the movie, one of the biggest acting problems was that no one at the time knew precisely how the Japanese acted, and since "The Mikado" was a Japanese opera, that was considered essential. The costumes were also a problem, for although they were authentically Japanese, many of the actors disagreed with their construction.

The biggest complaints were from actors Jessie Bond and Durward Lely, who could not stand the fact that they were not allowed to wear corsets onstage.

8. Who were the two people working with Gilbert and Sullivan who, according to the movie, were most important to the acting company.

Answer: Helen Lenoir and Richard D'Oyly Carte

All of these people were essential to Gilbert and Sullivan and the Savoy Theater, but Helen Lenoir and Richard D'Oyly Carte are portrayed in the movie as the most important people working for the theater. D'Oyly Carte ran the theater - it was his company, The D'Oyly Carte Acting Company - and his wife, Helen Lenoir, was his assistant.

She took over the management of the company after he died.

9. What happened, before opening night of "The Mikado", that made the entire cast plead with Gilbert to change his mind?

Answer: Richard Temple's main aria was cut

Richard Temple, playing the role of "The Mikado", was devastated to find out that Gilbert had cut his main aria - "A More Humane Mikado" - the night before the show opened. The entire cast of the show got together to talk to Gilbert, and after much sympathizing and pleading, Gilbert finally agreed to place Temple's aria back into the opera.

This proved a wise decision, as it is now one of the most famous songs in the opera.

10. Who said the following, "There's something inherently disappointing about success."

Answer: W.S. Gilbert

Gilbert never liked being successful, according to a dialogue he has with his wife towards the end of the film - he always found success upsetting. He said during the movie, "I don't quite know how to take praise. It makes my eyes red."

Source: Author jen721

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