Hasty Pudding’s ‘Casino Evil’: A Wonderfully Cliché Drag Show

Gaudy costumes, men in drag, and crude jokes: all things you can expect from a musical from the Hasty Pudding Theatricals. With a talented set of actors and clever content, the Theatricals’ 169th production, “Casino Evil,” delivers all of this and more.

This musical takes the age-old plot of the little town struggling to stay afloat and twists it into something absurd. The characters of this small Western town are horrified to see that the new casino, Caesar’s Phallus, has stolen their audience for the annual fair. As Grannie Oakley (Daniel S. Milaschewski ’17), Ophelia Thrustin (Dylan J. Peterson ’17), Ruby Slippers (David J. Lynch ’20) and Hank Kupfs (Michael A. Wingate ’18) travel to the casino, they meet a babysitter-turned-cactus, Alesha Not-A-Cactus (Eli Russell ’20) and four-year-old bandit Dennis Jimanez (Derek P. Speedy ’18). Once the gang decides to take down the casino’s owner, the morbidly obese mob boss Al Calzone (Daniel E. Hughes ’18), the plot becomes even more convoluted and ludicrous.

With its lewd jokes and crazy outfits, “Casino Evil” could have easily gone wrong. Yet the actors deliver an engaging performance by recognizing the absurdity of it all. Occasionally, an actor almost breaks character to laugh at the ridiculous line that’s scripted, invoking even more laughter from the audience. Em Fizeema (Jacob W. Roberts ’19), an ex-FBI agent and heavy smoker, made bizarre faces at the crowd during dance numbers that added to the hilarity. The actors’ individual abilities to sing and speak in voices completely different from their own also exhibited the considerable talent of the cast. Peterson used a husky, seductive voice while Roberts sounded convincingly like a smoker. Scott Kall ’20 was perhaps the most convincing of all, singing in an Italian accent as Calzone’s hench-woman, Bella Donna. Overall, the actors brought an energy to the stage that enhanced the comical experience for the audience.

The cliché nature of the play makes the show an all-around entertaining experience. “Casino Evil” is a shamelessly tasteless send-up of “The Wizard of Oz”: Ruby Slippers is almost identical to Dorothy, and Caesar’s Phallus resembles Emerald City. As the actors occasionally break the fourth wall, they recognize the outlandishness of the plot. For example, as Ophelia, Ruby and Grannie discuss men, Grannie directly looks at the audience and says, “We’re all girls here. Aren’t we?” Moments like these draw in the crowd, as did the closing act, which includes the whole cast dressed as brides calling for the audience to dance along.

The lyrics were brilliantly done and paired well with original music. The songs are hilariously ridiculous and also include many dirty one-liners, yet the Hasty Pudding is not afraid to throw in dark and politically-charged humor as well. “Casino Evil” poked fun at the recent HUDS strike and had a quick plug against gun violence. Of course, the lyrics include lines that ridicule other universities such as Yale and Wellesley, along with some self-deprecating humor about Havard itself. The jokes were funny and exactly what an audience might hope for when coming to Farkas Hall, the Hasty Pudding’s home theater.

The drag costumes are extravagant, adding to the visual appeal of the show. The makeup is over-the-top with exaggerated drawn-on eyebrows, huge red lips, and excessive blush. This just adds to the fun of the performance, reminding the audience that this is anything but your average musical.

Hasty Pudding Theatricals does an excellent job creating a unique drag show full of laughter and drama. The original music, interactive experience, and lyrics filled with college humor make “Casino Evil” a musical worth seeing.

“Casino Evil” is at Farkas Hall from Feb. 4 to Mar. 5.