The Hasty Pudding Club Play

The first public performance of the Hasty Pudding club play, "The Catnippers," will be given at the club theatre on Monday night, April 13. The following night, Tuesday, April 14, will be the regular Undergraduate night. rehearsals have now been held regularly for the past four weeks under the direction of Mr. Gilbert, and the choruses are running smoothly. Attention will be paid from now on mainly to the finer points of stage action, and to the detailed setting of scenic figures. The ballets, under the instruction of Miss Wyman, are rapidly approaching final form and give promise of being one of the most pleasing parts of the performance.

The plot of "The Catnippers" is centered around the Magical Cat of the Rao of Matchoo and the attempts of his hated rival the Maharajah to obtain it.

In the opening scene the Maharajah, consulting with his Ministers, finds his court without army or money, and so on advice of his Vizier and at the instigation of the court astrologer, he determines to send his ministers to the land of Matchoo to secure the wonderful Cat,--Offering as reward to the successful thief, the hand of his daughter, the beautiful Princess. Unfortunately the son of the Rao, who being in love with the Princess has come to the court in disguise, hears of this scheme and meeting with two Boston fakirs, Bill and Harry, obtains their services to assist him in a counter-plot to secure the cat for himself and thus obtain the Princess. They easily outwit the vizier and the ministers, secure the Cat and return to the Maharajah's court just before the arrival of the crestfallen ministers, who have brought the two guards of the shrine, whom they supposed dead, but had only been drugged by the Boston fakirs, as proof of the fight with the Rao's soldiers which they offer as an excuse for their failure. The Maharajah is furious, but his anger is quickly changed to the utmost terror, when word comes that the Rao and his soldiers are approaching, in search of the Cat. Before he can escape the brutal Rao appears, demands the Magical cat or the instant death of the Maharajah, and is on the point of carrying his threat into execution, when the two fakirs appear with the wonderful Cat between them. The fakirs bring the guards to life, receive a large reward for their services; the Rao is so delighted to receive his wonderful animal again and is so pleased with the appearance of his future daughter-in-law, that he forgives his son, blesses his daughter and makes peace and alliance with the Maharajah.

A synopsis of the play follows:

Act I. Opening scene before the Palace of the Maharajah. Opening chorus, "We're the jolly genial subject of a jovial Rajah." Entrance of Vizier and Maharajah (S. Waller '03, W. C. Clark '03). Reception of Ministers. Song by Minister of War (J. S. Seabury '04). "I am an Epicure." Plot to steal cat followed by Princess' entry--solo and chorus "In lonely hours of the dreamy night." Meeting of Prince and Princess. Betrothal. Closing chorus--Maharajah. Ministers. Subjects--"We're off to the lands of Matchoo."

Act II. Curtain rises after chant to Sun God revealing Shrine of the Sacred Cat in the Himalaya Mountains. The dance of Idols. Entrance of Prince and Boston travellers (H. L. Riker '03, R. w. Child '03, G. O. Winston '04). Capture of Cat. Awakening of guards. "Guard song and dance." Drinking of sleeping potion left by fakirs. Entrance of Vizier and Ministers. Disappearance of cat. Song by Prince Idols and chorus, "My Hindu Unda." Entrance of Rao Final chorus, Rao (R. Inglis '03) and soldiers, "We're a very brutal crew." Tableaux.

Act III. Scene in Garden near Maharajah's Palace, with Princess and maids. Song, "Moonlight." Ballet of Princess' maids. Topical song. Prince and Boston fakirs. "Big Walz," principals and chorus, "Tell us just why we are sighing." "Yellow parrot song," by Prince. Grand finale, entire cast.