Friday 25 November 2016

Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 25-11-2016: The Mousetrap

Hmmm … 

It’s officially official.

It’s Black Friday.

The term was originally used in the UK, by the emergency services: to describe the last Friday before Christmas.

When people in the UK, traditionally got drastically drunk, celebrating the season.

In the past few years?

The US definition of the term’s been used.

The day is the shopping day after Thanksgiving, when many in the US will be taking the day off: and booking the Friday off, as well, and making a long weekend of it.

Spending a fortune in the pre-christmas sales, in the process.

That’s ok, by me.

But some shops and retail websites in the UK are marking it.

It’s has calmed down a lot: ever since, in 2014, some shops saw riots over assorted Black Friday offers.

But I still find it stupid and offensive, that the results of a US public holiday, are marked by UK shops.

~≈Â≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Angel*, Debbi† and Olga‡ putting in their answers: with Debbi scoring ten out of ten, and Angel And Olga scoring nine.

Let’s see how everyone does with today’s themed questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video … 

Q1) 25th November saw the opening of the play, The Mousetrap.   In which year?
Q2) The play opened at which theatre: The Ambassadors, Saint Martin’s or The Dominion?

Q3) That theatre is in which city’s theatre district: New York’s, London’s or Paris’s?
Q4) That district is called what?
Q5) The play is now being shown in which theatre: The Ambassadors, Saint Martin’s or The Dominion?
Q6) The play is a murder mystery.   Also known as a who … what?
Q7) Who wrote the play?
Q8) The play takes place in Monkswell Manor.   Monkswell Manor is a fictional what: guest house, motel or hotel?
Q9) Monkswell Manor is owned by Mollie and Giles Ralston.   Name any of the guests — or other characters — in the Manor.
Q10) Finally … The Mousetrap is based on a short radio play called Three what?
Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 
Q1) 24th November, 1991, saw the death of singer song-writer, Farrokh Bulsara.   How was he better known?
A1) Freddie Mercury.
Q2) For many years, Farrokh was the singer and frontman: for which regal rock band?
A2) Queen.
Q3) He and the band famously played at Live Aid: in which year of the 1980s?
A3) 1985.
Q4) DJ, Kenny Everett, said “Forget it, it’s going to be number one for centuries.”   But of which of Farrokh’s songs?
A4) Bohemian Rhapsody.   (Kenny wasn’t that wrong: the song stayed on top of the UK charts for nine weeks, in 1975: and five more weeks, on its release after Freddie’s death.   The song is also credited with kickstarting the idea of releasing a song, with an accompanying promotional video.)
Q5) The band’s Greatest Hits album has seventeen tracks.   How many of them were written by Farrokh?
A5) Ten.
Q6) Name either of Farrokh’s two full, solo, albums.
A6) Mr Bad Guy or Barcelona.
Q7) Farrokh recorded a couple of solo singles: eventually released in 1973.   He released them under which name?
A7) Larry Lurex.
Q8) One album Farrokh and the band recorded, featured songs used in Highlander.   Which album?
A8) It’s A Kind Of Magic.
Q9) Which of the band’s songs provided Farrokh with his first top ten hit?
A9) Seven Seas of Rhye.
Q10) Finally … Farrokh died in 1991, from bronchial pneumonia: complicated by which condition?
A10) HIV/AIDS.
I’ll leave you with this believe …
“It won't run that long.   Eight months perhaps.”
The playwright, discussing the play’s opening with the then producer, Peter Saunders.
And — although it’s not strictly about a mousetrap — this tune … 


Enjoy your day!






*        Actually, Angel … Number 9 wasn’t a trick: Seven Seas of Rhye.   What can I tell you … ?   :D   At ANY rate, I know what you mean about the turkey carcass: Mum’s been doing that for years, on Boxing Day … !

†        I know, Debbi!   Actually I had the movie on, last night: while I was making the Teaser video.   Alan Rickman and Warwick Davies — as good as they were as Marvin — didn’t do it for me.


‡        That’s perfectly OK, Olga: family’s important!   (I take it everyone’s as well as be expected?)

2 comments:

Olga said...

Q1) 1952
Q2) The Ambassadors
Q3) London
Q4) The West End
Q5) Saint Martin’s
Q6) Done it
Q7) Agatha Christie
Q8) Guest house
Q9) Christopher Wren (wonderful name)
Q10) Blind Mice
Here in Spain, some places are running Black Friday promotions too. I don't think it's as big as in the US or the UK.
The hospital visits... One of my cousins developed renal failure. He's recovering well but it will be a long process and has developed diabetes as a result of the treatment. One of my aunts has Parkinson's and is deteriorating quickly.

Debbi said...

That's really weird about you guys having Black Friday based on the US Thanksgiving!

I think it's just a lame excuse for retailers to hold sales. :)

1. 1952
2. Saint Martin's
3. London's
4. West End
5. Saint Martin's
6. who-dunnit
7. Agatha Christie
8. guest house
9. Christopher Wren
10. Blind Mice

Would you believe I've never seen the play? Sacrilege, isn't it? :)

I've read Christie books and seen some movies, but never seen this famous play.

Maybe the next time I'm in London. I hope!