‘HPT 177: Salooney Tunes’ Preview: A Glance Behind The Curtain of HPT’s 177th Show

While most of campus was enjoying their time off during the J-term, a troupe of student performers transformed the quiet rooms of Farkas Hall into rehearsal space for the Hasty Pudding Theatricals (HPT), developing a comedy musical featuring strong emotions, antics, and a diverse group of characters.

“HPT 177: Salooney Tunes,” written by Benjamin D. Langman ’26 and Gunnar Sizemore ’27, ran at the Farkas Hall stage from Feb. 6 to March 8 in classical HPT production style. The show begins with the outlaw Robin Yablind and his counterfeit unassuming accomplice Wyatt Aitme as they blast into a saloon in Goldendamaire Hills, a small town in the wild west. What was supposed to be a glorious robbery turns into a convoluted affair that tangles the townspeople — and their pets — into one humorous tale involving robberies, dances, gold, and a lot of comedy.

With the assistance of professional director and choreographer Larry Sousa, a company of 50 undergraduate technicians, musicians, and cast members put together the action-packed show in just three weeks.

“We have to do all of the rehearsals and blocking and learning of the lines and songs really quickly,” said Cruz G. Allison ’28 in an interview with The Crimson, who played colorblind, gold-gluttonous prospector Dustin Myeyes.

Before classes began, rehearsals ran for twelve hours every day. Although physically demanding, the close bonds the cast members developed during the process turned it into an enjoyable process.

“It’s been a really lovely experience, because we’re all friends. And it feels a lot less like people you’re working with, it feels more like you get to do this fun thing with these people that you really enjoy being around,” said Allison.

Ahead of their last performance, the rooms behind the curtain reflected the atmosphere of the production. The cast dressing rooms were adorned with a Hasty Pudding coat of arms, horse heads, plastic mannequins, and colorful dresses. One hour before the show, these seemingly miscellaneous items turned into key components of their performance.

The undergraduates of HPT performed eight shows a week for five weeks in Farkas Hall. During rehearsals and the run, Isabel “Izzy” V.S. Wilson ’26, the cast Vice President, was responsible for both execution, script writing, and cast bonding.

“One of the big challenges is being able to look at it from a bird’s eye view and see the projects more holistically,” said Wilson in an interview with The Crimson, whose role combines both acting and cast coordination.

The show’s characters developed alongside its actors. Elianna A. Carvalho ’29, who portrayed a ketamine-addicted horse Gideon Up, was able to shape her character throughout the preparation of the performance.

“There are little mannerisms I’ve been adding to the horse character throughout the entire show, whether that be a flick of the hair or a kick of the foot,” Carvalho said in an interview with The Crimson. “I’ve definitely made him a sassier horse.”

For HPT, comedy is meant to be an interaction with the audience. The cast would occasionally ad-lib during performances to bring new life to their characters and keep things fresh for the audiences and other actors. They kept shaping and adjusting the jokes and movements throughout the run.

“Part of the process is like learning what works and what doesn’t work,” said Allison. “Sometimes you say something or do a movement differently or react in a different way, and the audience laughs really hard, and you’re like, oh my gosh, that’s it.”

Pushing the boundaries of the show’s plot, the actors managed to tailor each performance to a specific audience. As energy levels are diverse, the cast adapted the entertainment to fit the situation.

“In the nature of The Pudding, every show is a little bit different,” Wilson said. “Everyone is seeing the same show 40 times. It’s the same routine that we do. Just each show has a little different piece of life breathed into it.”

Beyond the demanding rehearsals and performances, HPT is filled with traditions and hidden jokes behind the scenes. Although most of them are kept secret from the prying eyes, some actually happen during the show.

“Usually we’re behind the backdrop during the set changes, dancing around, spinning around during the songs, dancing in our own way, but the audience can’t see us, and that’s something that's so fun and makes the show a more enjoyable experience for us,” said Carvalho.

All cast members expressed a sense of friendship that formed on the set of “HPT 177: Salooney Tunes.” As the show run came to an end, students discussed their sadness over leaving their co-team members.

“Getting ready before the shows in the dressing rooms is so fun,” Carvalho said. “Catching up with everybody, talking, making jokes, playing music, dancing. I’m really sad that it’s ending. I could do this for an entire year.”

After more than 40 shows under the troupe’s belt, their work came down to a few final moments. The band tuned their instruments, cast members did their final warmups, and the technical team dimmed the house lights to prepare for their final run.

“HPT 177: Salooney Tunes” ran at Farkas Hall from Feb. 6 to March 8.