Sunday, June 16, 2013

173 Quiz Answer

Here's the answer to this week's quiz.
"Gypsy” is a musical with music by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim.  It’s loosely based on the 1957 memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee and focuses on her mother, Rose, whose name has become synonymous with "the ultimate show business mother." It follows the dreams and efforts of Rose to raise two daughters to perform onstage and casts an affectionate eye on the hardships of show business life.
(Also for ABC Wednesday: "W" is for "Wynn")
This week's prompt reminded me of vaudeville so - here’s the Berownial quiz question.

The following scenelet should remind you of a famous musical.  Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is: name the musical.

“Call me Wynn.  My stage name is Wynn Wonnderful.”

“Yes, I see this brochure you’ve had printed up.  ‘Wynn Wonnderful, Songs, Dances, Tall Stories.’  But we have to face it, these are the 1920s.  The old vaudeville acts aren’t so popular any more.  In fact, neither is vaudeville.”

“Why do you say that?  People still love to be entertained.”

“Yeah, but they love to be entertained by the new gimmick, motion pictures.  Those flickering images are taking over.  A lot of old vaudeville performers don’t know where their next meal is coming from.”

“But as an agent you know there are still quite a number of vaudeville bookings available in various parts of the country.  And they’re ready for a new, exciting act like mine.”

“I had no idea you were a performer.  From what I know of your career, you were sort of a classic stage mother.  It was your two little daughters who were actually out there on the stage.”

“Yes, and we had one of the top acts.  My two kiddies earned ten thousand a week on the Orpheum Circuit.”

“Face it; those days are gone.  I remember seeing that act, those tiny, talented kids, years ago.  How were they billed?”

“’Bitsy and Her Sister – Songs, Dances…”

“And Tall Stories,’ Yeah, I remember it well.  Now the kids are growing up.  Bitsy isn’t so bitsy any more.  The other girl, she’s turned out to be a teenage beauty - we might be able to work something out with her, maybe in burlesque.” 

“No, no.  Neither of them is interested in show biz any more.  I came to talk to you about this new act, Wynn Wonnderful, created specifically for this modern age we live in.  It’s very upbeat, very positive.  My songs can get an audience believing that everything’s coming up roses!”

“So you sort of feel that you did all the heavy lifting for the careers of your little kids and now it’s your turn?”

“You might put it that way.  Just let me audition for you.  This is actually your chance to get in on the ground floor of a sure-fire theatrical success.  Wynn Wonnderful should be making ten thousand a week herself in a year or two.”

“Well, when you’re making ten thousand a week I might be interested.  Otherwise, afraid not.”

(Also submitted to Sunday Scribblings.)

40 comments:

kaykuala said...

Mary Poppins or Sound of Music I think! Just a wild guess, Berowne!

Hank

Helen said...

Gypsy ........

Little Nell said...

Gypsy? Based on the life of Gypsy Rose Lee.

Tess Kincaid said...

Yankee Doodle Dandy? wild guess

Berowne said...

We're starting off with a bang, with correct answers by both Little Nell and Helen.

Roger Owen Green said...

It sounds like Gypsy, but I'm not sure.

Helen said...

Whew ~~~~ finally I got one!!!!

Berowne said...

Roger Owen Green writes that he's not sure, but he sure got it right!

Altonian said...

Everything's coming up roses round our front door - red ones, formerly wild roses - GYPSY roses. My wife is part GYPSY !

Berowne said...

Altonian has just joined the gallant group of those who know the right answer.

Lyn said...

Coming up roses, huh? Maybe "Gypsy"?

Helena said...

As usual, I haven't a Scooby! I've watched loads of musicals, too! Looking forward to the answer!

Berowne said...

Lyn has just given us the correct answer.

Charleen said...

I liked this. I found myself in the middle of the conversation.

naturgesetz said...

Reminds me of "Gypsy."

Lady In Read said...

not sure at all, a totally wild guess from me - The Producers! :)

Berowne said...

Another right answer, this one from naturgesetz.

Silent Otto said...

Security were called to break up the cat fight that had erupted between Judy Garland and her daughter , liza Minella, in an unseemly public display of intergenerational rivalry !

Unknown said...

Quite interesting...

jabblog said...

I enjoyed reading this but I'm hopeless at quizzes.

Theresa Milstein said...

Wynn Wonderful--love the name!

Nana Jo said...

Is it the musical Gypsy, perchance?

Berowne said...

Nana Jo is the latest to come up with the right answer.

Susan Lindquist said...

It's Gypsy ... def. Who could forget that song ... Let Me Entertain You and Ethel Merman singing 'Everything's Coming Up Roses'?

Unknown said...

I think it's the one about Gypsy Rose Lee but not sure what the musical's called.

Berowne said...

Two more winners! Susan Lindquist and Frankie Jay both came up with the correct answer.

Sheilagh Lee said...

Gypsy

Kate said...

This is a stab in the dark. . .Gypsy?

Berowne said...

Sheilagh Lee and Kate have just joined the merry band of those who know the right answer.

Meryl said...

I'm going for "Gypsy" because I can hear Ethel Merman belting "Everything's Coming Up Roses" - although I never actually saw the play!

Sharp Little Pencil said...

GYPSY! Ethel Merman on Broadway, Roz Russell (genuflecting now) as Mama Rose in the movie. And don't forget that "Baby June" actually became June Havoc, who had a so-so career in pictures... I love this one! Thanks, Berowne. Back online this weekend... just taking a break. Love, Amy

Berowne said...

A few more to add to our list of correct answerers: Meryl and Sharp Little Pencil. Who's next?

Margaret said...

Gypsy?

Berowne said...

Margaret has just stepped up with the right answer.

Anonymous said...

Gypsy

The Blog of Bee said...

Gypsy- I think@

Margaret said...

Hooray!

Berowne said...

L and Bee's Blog (and presumably Bee) both have the correct answer.

Berowne said...

Thanks, Amy. It's great to get such interesting info on the week's quiz question.

Susan Anderson said...

Gypsy!

=)

 
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