179 Quiz Answer

Here's this week's quiz answer.

John Keats was one of the greatest of the English poets.  He died in 1821 at the incredible age of twenty-five.

(Also for Three Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "C" is for "Charlie.")

For centuries, innkeepers knew that the inn they operated had to have a stable.

When folks showed up to stay the night they usually arrived by equine power so the innkeeper had to have a place to park the equines.  The stable, in short, was an important part of any inn.

I mention stables because they played a large part in the life story of the chap I wanted to write about this week.  I’ll call him Li’l Charlie, because that certainly wasn’t his name.

Charlie was born, and pretty well raised, in a stable.  His father was, in other words, a hostler.  I believe our cousins across the pond say ostler, but it’s the same word: it’s the guy who took care of horses when they showed up at an inn.

When the boy was old enough he became a “stable lad,” a job that most kids of that day regarded as the work of a jackass because you spent most of your time shoveling manure, a type of work that gets old fast.

By now you’ve probably grasped the point: Li’l Charlie started out on one of the lowest rungs of life’s ladder.

However, someone spotted something special in the young chap – he seemed to be gifted in his words and in his poetic use of the English language – so they volunteered to put up the money for his education.  At the age of fifteen the fortunate youth got to study – pharmacy!

He became a licensed apothecary.

For a nascent poetic genius that may have been better than shoveling equine droppings but probably not by much.

Anyway, he continued with his splendid poetry and did pretty well with it.  He learned that beauty is truth, truth beauty, and some say he got to be better at it than anyone since Shakespeare.  It led to a rupture in his way of life.

I guess you could say no less than that he became one of the few established poets who, if things turned sour in the poetry game, could always open a drug store.

So - what was Li’l Charlie’s real name?

(Also submitted to Sunday Scribblings.)    

178 Quiz Answer

This week’s quiz answer.

Eeyore is a character in the Winnie-the-Pooh books by A. A. Milne. He is generally characterized as a pessimistic, gloomy, depressed old grey stuffed donkey who is a friend of the title character, Winnie-the-Pooh.

(Also for Three Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "B" is for "bleak")

Here’s this week’s Berownial quiz question:

“We’ve been thinking about setting up an intervention for one of our friends, but we don’t know how to go about it.  So we thought you’d be the natural one to ask.”

“Well, I’ve been involved in several interventions, but I’m far from the expert on the topic.  So often these days interventions are used because the subject suffers from drug addiction.  Your job is to convince him to check into a rehabilition center for treatment.”

“No, that wouldn’t apply in this case.  We’re pretty sure he’s not ‘using.’”

“Then he’s probably a boozer.  By the way, what’s his name?” 

“We’d rather not give his name.  Could we just refer to him as ‘the subject’?  And I would be derelict if I didn't mention that his problem has nothing to do with alcohol.”

“Okay, let’s see.  He’s into gambling in a big way?”

“Nope, not that either.  I apologize for not coming straight to the point.  Our friend, the subject, is  – well, he wanders about gloomy and depressed, almost all the time.  He always has this bleak outlook.  He’s a manic-depressive except that there’s no manic; just the other thing.”

“And you’ve talked to him about this?”

“Yeah, but he won’t change.  He’s stubborn as a mule, which come to think of it he resembles in a number of ways.  He’s been our friend for years – because basically he’s a pretty decent sort – but we’re all tired of his attitude.”

“From what you’ve said, my guess would be that he likes to live alone?  And he’s probably always in gray; no bright colors?”

“Right, exactly.  He lives off in an area known as Hundred-Acre Wood.  When we drop around he always says he’s glad to see us, but he sure doesn’t act like it.” 

“And that gloominess affects others?  Members of your group show signs of cognitive vulnerability?”

“Uh, I – of what?”

“In other words, he makes others gloomy too?”

“Right.”

“Well, there’s probably no nearby institution you could check him into – not that it matters because it would seem the subject would refuse to go.  And there's no way to medicate the problem.  My advice is, he’s your friend so why not just accept him as he is?”

(Also submitted to Sunday Scribblings.)

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is: give us the name of “the subject”?

177 Quiz Answer

Here’s this week’s quiz answer.
Show Boat is a 1927 musical with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. The show features the lives of the performers, stagehands, and dock workers on the Cotton Blossom, a Mississippi River show boat, over forty years, from 1887 to 1927. Its themes include racial prejudice and tragic love.
(Also for Three Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "A" is for "Al")

Here’s this week’s Berownial quiz question.
I wrote the following, hoping it might suggest a famous musical.  Your assignment, assuming you accept it, is: name the musical.
 
“I came as soon as I heard the news.  You’ve decided not to invest in our production?”

“I thought you’d be dropping around.”

“You understand, Al, without your financial backing, this show hasn’t much of a chance to be produced!”

“That’s the great thing about being a backer.  I can always back out.  I just got a copy of the completed script.  I couldn’t believe it.  This is a ‘musical’?  A show full of dancing girls, comedians, great scenery, beautiful music?  But you traverse the whole theatrical spectrum with a few ‘extras’ – such as poverty, suffering, misery, miscegenation, racism?  You folks wrote this?  You’re out of your minds!”

“But Al, you haven’t grasped the main point.  This is 1927!  It’s a different century!   We're through with pretense.  It’s time Broadway began to deal with real life, with reality.  With this production we’re going to create something that will be a watershed in theatrical history.  They’ll be talking about our show a hundred years from now.”

“Right, still trying to recover the dough they invested in it!  Look, I recognize good theatre.  You may well have a fine play here, the one that’s serious and a kind of tragedy.  But that’s a different show.  You’re trying to insert it into a typical ‘Follies’ type of musical revue.  It’s a terrible idea.”    

“But it’s not as though there are solid, etched-in-stone rules for musicals.  If there are, it’s high time they were broken.”

“You don’t break the rules if they are what sells tickets, decade after decade.  You have to assign gorgeous dancing girls, for the tired businessman in the audience, along with beautiful love songs for his wife’s enjoyment.  Everyone’s happy.”

“And we’ve got all that.  Look at the creative crew, the greatest names in the business!”

“You don’t have to tell me – music by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein!  No bones about it, it’s a show that couldn’t possibly fail and yet you’re doing all you can to make it do just that.  Your opening scenes don’t show happy-happy folks singing and dancing.  Instead, you have bitter, depressed people doing tough, back-breaking work and complaining angrily about it.  You don’t want the audience to leave the theatre feeling good; you want ‘em to feel miserable.”

“No, Al.  Today’s audiences are more sophisticated, more grown-up.”

“Okay, let’s talk about grown up.  Do you realize that if you perform this in certain parts of the South today they might very well toss the whole cast in the lockup?”

“Luckily, we’ll be here up north, on Broadway.”

(Also submitted to Sunday Scribblings.)

176 Quiz Answer

Here’s this week’s quiz answer.

Way back in 18^th-century France, an army engineer named Rouget de Lisle wrote a piece of music – a chant de guerre, a war song.

Revolutionary types got hold of it and made it theirs.  Volunteers from Marseille, on a march against the French King, entered Paris on July 30^th, 1792, singing the song with such fervor that so many in the City of Light were thrilled by it; they named it “La Marseillaise.”

For decades the melody sort of represented France but it was not until 1958 that it was made the official national anthem.

(Also for Three Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "Z" is for "zeal.")

Here’s this week’s Berownial quiz question.  It’s about a well-known song.  Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is: name the song.

“You don’t understand.  I’ve got nothing against the song as a song.  It’s beautiful.” 

“Then why are you against adopting it as our official theme?”

“It’s confusing.  Originally it was a chant de guerre, a war song – full of patriotic zeal and all that.  Then the rebels got hold of it; the whole meaning changed.  Suddenly it was part of, a kind of trigger for, the Revolution.  For the composer it was like a kick in the belly; he was horrified.”

“Well, I hate to hurt the composer’s feelings, but a song was very much needed and this seems to fill the bill.  Besides, when those guys from the south showed up on a march against the French king while singing this piece, people went wild.”

“I know.  There are some who immediately claimed it should be declared official, but it’s really just a song named after a southern town.  Strange that anyone would consider it appropriate for other sections of the country.”

“But they do!  If this is what they want, I say let’s give it to them.”

“Well, there’s another problem.  We need a piece that can be sung by everyone, school kids as well as adults.  Have you read the hapless lyrics?  Talk about blood and guts – it’s too much!”

“There’s no need to emphasize such delinquent stuff when you’re singing the song.  You just need to keep the emphasis on the uplifting theme.”

“Here, read the lyrics.  It’s about killing, no use pretending it isn’t.  It’s about slaughtering the forces of the enemy so that their blood will fertilize our fields.  Their blood will be flowing down the plowed furrows!  You’re going to have five-year-olds singing this in kindergarten?” 

“Well, it’s strong, no question about that.  But we need a strong song as a national anthem and it’s simply a fact that it has caught the imagination of a great many people around the world.”

(Also submitted to Sunday Scribblings.) 

 

175 Quiz Answer

Here’s this week’s quiz answer.

“A Doll’s House” is a play by Henrik Ibsen, the major 19th-century Norwegian playwright who is often referred to as "the father of realism" and who is one of the founders of modernism in the theatre.

(Also for Three Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "Y" is for "Yvonne.")

Here's this week's Berownial quiz.
I wrote the following scenelet, which I hope will remind you of a world-famous play.  Though originally written in Norwegian, it has held the distinction of being the world's most-performed play.  Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is: give us its name - in English.

"My last trip over that way I dropped in on Yvonne.  Hadn't seen her for a year or so."
"She seemed happy?"
"Oh yes, very happy.  She and Vernon have what looks like an ideal marriage."
"I got that same impression.  'Ideal' is the word.  Not many married couples are as contented as they are."
"It's almost funny, the way they carry on - like they just got hitched, instead of being married for years.  Vernon goes out of his way to be thoughtful and romantic.  Brings her little gifts and such.  And I thought it was a bit much, the way he calls his wife 'sweetcakes' and 'baby doll.'"
"Does she get indignant at such talk?"
"Oh no, she loves it.  When he was home, she couldn't stop singing and giggling at his jokes and so on.  It was actually a bit strange.  It seemed such a flabby existence and you know that Yvonne, back in school, was always an intelligent, serious type."
"Well, marriage changes people."
"As a result of my visit, I came away kinda worried.  I felt that somehow there was a smell - you could almost have called it a stench - of unreality about their situation.  Then, sure enough, she told me something in private, making me promise never to let her husband know."
"That sounds pretty melodramatic."
"She has money problems.  She had taken out a loan, a rather large one, not telling Vernon, and now she can't pay it off.  It seems that, for him, the very idea that she might do such a thing without consulting him would be unacceptable.  He knows how a wife should act and that wouldn't be it."
"You don't think that all her singing and giggling is just play-acting and that she's trying to avoid a domestic squabble?"
"Well, that shows insight but from what I know of Vernon - he's old school, he has to be the boss and so on - my guess is that it would probably be much more than a squabble."

(Also submitted to Sunday Scribblings)

174 Quiz Answer

Here’s this week’s quiz answer.

“Big” is a fantasy film directed by Penny Marshall, and stars Tom Hanks as Josh Baskin, a young boy who makes a wish "to be big" and is then aged to adulthood overnight.

(Also for Three Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "X" is for "exact")
Here’s this week’s Berownial quiz question.

It's not Kubrick, but it is a film that I have in mind.  The following scenelet should remind you of a well-known motion picture.  Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is: name the movie.

The largest toy manufacturer in the country is having a meeting to plan the introduction of their latest product to the general public.

Hal: “What we’ve wound up with is our next big seller, and one of the reasons is that it’s the safest toy on the market.”

Fred: “I wonder if kids are going to ask their parents to get them the safest toy on the market?”

Hal: “Well, their parents are going to want it, and they’re the ones with the dough.”

Fred: “Don’t forget a lot of kids manage to stow away cash and buy their own stuff.”

Keith:  “Fred, you may not be aware of how our Research and Development section came up with this item.  They worked on it for months; concept, design, marketing.  This is vintage toy-making by experts; it's an idea that has traction.  Because what we have as a result is a wonder: a copy of a world-famous building, a toy Empire State Building!  An exact replica, down to the tiny details.  And for a great low price.”

Hal: “Yes, and it’s a fact that kids love things having to do with the building trade – Bob the Builder, construction work, concrete mixers, anything having to do with building.   So we know there’s an established market for our sensational new toy version of the Empire State Building.  Fisher-Price has nothing like this.”

Keith: “You don’t looked convinced, Fred.”

Fred: “Well, you know, it’s just – what do you do with it?  A toy is something a kid plays with.  How do you play with a building?”

Hal: “Look at it this way.  The idea is that the father has a hobby; he probably collects things.  There are millions of collectors – they go after old baseball cards, butterflies, seashells, stamps, you name it.  This impresses a guy’s son; he wants to be a collector too.  It's imperative that folks understand that this item is a great way for a kid to start a collection.”

Keith: “And you’ve got to admit if it starts off with a toy Empire State Building it could be a terrific collection.” 

Fred:  “I don’t think it’s a good idea at all.” 

Hal:  “Look.  I don’t mean to be offensive, Fred.  But you’re new to this company and you come in here talking garbage and acting as if you know it all and we’re just beginners.  We were prepared to listen to what you have to say.  Well, we’ve listened, so do us the favor of shutting up and letting us get on with our work.  Okay?”

Fred:  “Okay.  But when I think of a toy I don’t think of a building.”

(Also submitted to Sunday Scribblings.) 

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.)

172 Quiz Answer

Here’s the answer to this week’s quiz.
 

In 1862 there was a 31-year-old woman who lived in Amherst, Massachusetts and who wrote poetry. 

Emily Dickinson wrote a great many poems, very few of which were published in her lifetime and none of which were published as she wrote them.

The reason?  Her poetry was too, well, different – strange and at times almost chaotic. 

Truth is, she knew the rules of poetry, she just didn’t care all that much about them.  She wanted to write in her own raw, idiosyncratic way and she wasn’t going to change.

It’s ironic that, after her death, many of her works – she left almost 2,000 poems – were published, and she would undoubtedly have been upset to see that they had all been “corrected” by editors, the syntax rearranged and everything rewritten in the conventional poetic style and approved grammar of that era.

It wasn’t till 1955 that Thomas Johnson published Dickinson's poems for the first time in their original formats, thus displaying the creative genius and peculiarity of her poetry.

(Also for Three Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "V" is for "Value")
Here’s this week’s Berownial quiz.

I wrote the following letter.  In it I play the part of a stuffy, overly pedantic English teacher, Mr. Carlyle, writing to a woman who had asked to have her poems evaluated.  The letter is fiction, but there was such a poetess, who lived in Amherst, Massachusetts, and who had a strange and unique poetic style.

Your assignment, assuming you choose to accept it, is: who was she?

Dear Miss ---------------:

You have sent me a number of your “poems,” adding that you would appreciate my criticism.

Well, I believe that deep inside you, hidden under a quantity of grammatical errors and inept usages, the heart of a poet lies beating.

However, my criticism is simple.  You show you have the makings of a genuine poet but you should take a course in elementary grammar-school English.

The English language is your tool, it is what you have to work with, and your knowledge of this tool is, well, pathetic.  Poetry filled with grammatical errors simply has no VALUE.

Here’s a poem you sent me.

I fear a Man of frugal Speech —
I fear a Silent Man —
Haranguer — I can overtake —
Or Babbler — entertain —

Why on earth all the dashes?  Then there are those capital letters, often used, as far as I can see, for no good reason.  And whatever happened to the period as a way to end a sentence? 

I must admit that you sent one poem that I thought could be perfectly acceptable, if we fix all the errors.

I taste a liquor never brewed --
From Tankards scooped in Pearl --
Not all the Vats upon the Rhine
Yield such an Alcohol!

Inebriate of Air -- am I --
And Debauchee of Dew --
Reeling -- thro endless summer days --
From inns of Molten Blue –-

Again, the capitals; again, the usual evil, the dashes.  And I have to admit that I chuckled at the thought that “pearl” rhymes with “alcohol.” 

Remember, there are rules that must be followed when writing poetry.  You mentioned that you have drawers-full of poems you have written.  I assume that instead of being smooth they too are in your usual raw, serrated style.

Unless you make the necessary corrections and avoid the grammatical errors a ten-year-old wouldn’t make, and unless your attempts follow the basic rules of poetry, all your efforts will have been in vain.

Sorry to have to rain on your parade.  I hope my suggestions and criticism will be of help.

(Also submitted to Sunday Scribblings.)