The Boys on the Boards
Our quiz today is dedicated to those
wonderful guys who played leading roles in Broadway musicals. Come on,
fellas (and gals), show us what you know!
1. Neither backstage petulance, onstage
flatulence, or a memorable gaffe involving a hairpiece caught on a rising
chandelier could dim the luster of this sexy Brit. Who was he?
2. These two guys didn’t own a sequin
between them, but they made Broadway history—and were damned good in a
1983 musical that portrayed gay life as warm and joyous. Name the actors,
the show, and its author.
3. While wife-beating may not really be a
fit subject for musical comedy, this fondly remembered baritone from the
Bronx applied his hand to where it did the most good to co-star Patricia
Morison nightly for years—and she loved it. This dedicated musical star
also dabbled in Shakespeare, and had a leading role in the most notorious
Shakespearean production of the post-war generation. Who is the star whose
wife-whacking was also based on the Bard, and what was his big
Shakespearean coup?
4. This British Shakespearean must have
devoutly wished that he was playing in the “M” Play, for which he was
justly famous, rather than this musical (starting with a “T”) he
performed for a season on Broadway. In spite of bad reviews, the show ran
six months and has a cult following today. It also has a song title which
its young lyricist and composer used to better advantage in their next
attraction. Name the star,
the show, the composer and lyricist, and the song title.
5. A pop sensation, now married to a
starlet as famous for the size of her derriere as for her talent, appeared
in a terrible and tasteless musical by a beloved NYC born songwriter. No
one was amused. Name the show, composer, star, and buttockacious spouse.
6. The son of a great Hollywood legend,
this affable but moderately talented bloke did manage to star in musicals
with two great leading ladies of the 1950s and the greatest singer (to
many) of the 60s. Name the ladies, the male star, and the trio of musicals
involved.
7. Drunken and drugged out behavior forced
this international star to cancel many performances of this mega-hit show.
When he did show up, though, he was Wonderful. Name the unreliable star
and the show.
8. Although his singing voice is often
compared to a backed up drainpipe, this wonderful actor received the Tony
for appearing (in drag, yet) for a hit musical that is still running. Name
the star and the show.
9. There’s a legend that this highly
talented star had to change his name from Penis van Lesbian IV before he
could snare the lead in a famous satirical show about rock singers. Who am
I talking about?
10. This actor, while a very young man,
shared the Broadway stage with a rising female star and a future First
Lady! Soon, he went on to oversee dozens of wives and courtesans. Name
him, the show, and his future hit.
Answers:
1. Rex Harrison, in My Fair Lady. He is
rumored to have treated Julie Andrews deplorably during rehearsals, and
farted lustily on an infamous night in the scene where he proclaimed his
manners fine (I can’t even watch the film version of that scene!). One
enchanted evening, Sexy Rexy’s wig got lifted by a rising chandelier in
the “Ball” scene. Live theatre is wonderful!
2. Straight guys Gene Barry and George
Hearn played lovers Georges and Albin in Jerry Herman’s blockbusting La
Cage Aux Folles based upon the popular film.
3. Alfred Drake, and the show Kiss Me, Kate, based upon The
Taming of The Shrew. He also created Curley in Oklahoma!, and starred in
Kismet. As for that Shakespeare play, Drake played Claudius opposite the
Hamlet of one Richard Burton in 1964—now that was a night out!
4. The Shakespearean was Maurice Evans,
Tenderloin was the one-season show, Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock (famed
later for Fiddler) were the authors. The song title that came back as the
heartbreaking first act finale to She Loves Me was “Dear Friend.“
5. The show was Capeman, written by Paul
Simon. It starred Marc Anthony, who is married to Jennifer “Latush”
Lopez.
6. The star was Sydney Chaplin and the gals
were Judy Holliday (Bells Are Ringing) Carol Lawrence (Subways Are For
Sleeping), and Miss Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl.
7. Sammy Davis, Jr., in Golden Boy. (Also
known for Mr. Wonderful)
8. Harvey Fierstein, in Hairspray.
9. Dick van Dyke! Hahahah!
10. Yul Brynner starred in Lute Song,
played with Mary Martin and Nancy Davis, who later changed her name to
Reagan. Brynner, of course, created the role of King Mongut in The King
And I.
Kenn
Harris is a NYC theatre and music critic and author of the biography of
opera diva Renata Tebaldi, and The Ultimate Opera Quiz Book. Kenn is both
an opera devotee and big time collector of original cast albums from
Broadway and around the world. And he loves to dish. Contact him at kharris106@nyc.rr.com
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