A Word Puzzle Using Altered Song Titles to Reveal a Musical

You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it.

I’m Martha Barnette.

And I’m Grant Barrett, and we’re joined by the newly appointed minister of crazy walks in North America, our quiz guy, John Chaneski.

Hi, John.

Hello.

Excuse me.

I never know what I’m gonna be doing when I walk into a room.

Let me somehow make my way to a chair.

There we go.

And let’s begin this quiz.

Guys, a few years ago, I tried a theater quiz on you, and I forgot that most of the plays and musicals where I am here in New York have yet to go on tour and become well known around the country.

Critics called it a flop.

Therefore, let’s try a quiz based on more classic theater works.

I’ll change a single letter in the title of a popular musical, making a new valid word and a new title.

Now, to clue you into the new title, I’ll give you a few songs from the New Musical’s cast album that have been changed a little bit.

Okay?

Oh, boy.

Okay.

Wow.

Sounds like you put a lot of work into this.

So here sure.

Here’s an example.

If I said, how do you solve a circle like Maria?

My favorite rings.

And 16 going on zero, the answer would be?

SoundOfMusic.

Well, just never change the letter in the sound of music to make The round of music.

The round of music.

Yes, very good.

Okay.

We got the sample.

That’s a good sign.

Here’s the first one.

Here’s here’s the songs from the cast album.

Hello, young monkeys.

Shall we climb?

Getting to know Feyre.

Getting to know Feyre.

These are all about primates or apes or gorillas or something.

Right.

If you can identify them when you’re yeah.

Okay.

Sounds like Martha might have it.

Yeah?

Yeah.

How about the Kong and I?

The Kong and I.

Oh, nice.

Instead of the King and I, yes.

Very nice.

Here’s another.

Something’s perfect.

G Officer Supreme.

I feel primo.

I feel pretty.

Oh, so pretty.

Is this Oh.

Is this Bye Bye Birdie?

Or I think it’s Best Side Story.

Best side story is correct.

Yes.

Well done instead of west side story.

Something’s perfect.

G officer supreme, and I feel primo.

Here’s another one.

We iron together, laundry school dropout, Starched Lightning.

So the movie that it’s or show that it’s based on is Grease, but I’m not All you gotta do is change a letter.

Oh.

Crease.

Crease.

Yes.

Very good.

If I were skink of the forest, if I only had iguana over the gecko.

Oh, I want an iguana.

This is terrible.

These are terrible puns.

They are not terrible.

Well, this has to be.

We’re off to see the lizard of The lizard of Oz, yes, Martha.

That is the quiz.

You did fantastic.

Well done.

Bravo, bravo.

Encore.

Well, encore for you guys.

Alright.

There he goes.

Look his new silly walk that’s gonna catch on and be the fat of the ages.

Thanks, John.

We’ll see you later.

On the side, I take large steps.

Bye bye.

Bye, guys.

Bye, John.

Thanks.

We do a quiz once per episode, but we always like to get your jokes, puns, stories, and tales that have a funny punchline.

You can call or text toll free, (877-929-9673, Or tell of a whole sort of thing an email, wordswaywardradio dot org.