This article appeared in the spring 2019 issue of Hobart and William Smith’s Martini, the College’s satire newspaper.
Epic Theatre Spin-Off Takes Finger Lakes by Storm
GENEVA, NY. — Unwitting theatre students at Hobart and William Smith Colleges discovered a document of great theatrical and historical importance last month, which has since debuted on the Deming Theater stage as well as in the Smith Opera House in downtown Geneva, NY—and it’s headed for Broadway. It’s Crossing Pulteney Street, the long-lost spinoff of Streetcar Named Desire that Tennessee Williams famously teased for the remainder of his life following Streetcar’s phenomenal success.
Found cradled in the arms of an unassuming mummy deep in the archives of the Warren Hunting Smith Library, the manuscript of Crossing Pulteney Street is believed to be an authentic Tennessee Williams after a student Honors project cross-examined handwriting of mid-twentieth century playwrights, a liberal arts pursuit which that will questionably serve her in her career. Thought to be written immediately after Streetcar Named Desire debuted on Broadway on December 3, 1947, the play follows a forbidden love amongst the coordinate colleges of Hobart and William Smith. Crossing Pulteney Street follows the iconic myth all current HWS students know and love: the timeless tale of overcoming a geographic divide to unite the separate Colleges with passionate romantic relations.
Bumping elbows in a meeting about the Coordinate system itself in the freezing winter of 1948, Sigma Phi brother Chad and bewitching, ZoomTanned William Smith woman Becky become as deeply infatuated with each other as all fraternity boys are with the Elizabeth Blackwell statue. But even though college classes and commencement were co-ed by 1948, rigid same-sex traditions kept the forlorn lovers on their respective sides of Pulteney come 9 pm, when he was relegated to Geneva Hall and she atop the William Smith Hill. Swathed in Barbour and Moncler, they’ll risk their college careers in the midst of a Geneva winter for the heat of a passionate love.
And don’t worry. Chad still screams “BECKYYYYYY!” beneath the Hirshson windows.
It’s a play as relevant as ever, with the Coordinate system itself currently questioned for its relevance in a nonbinary society. Crossing Pulteney Street takes one of Streetcar’s most prolific themes, that of women’s dependence on men, and turns it completely on its head. Gender equality (but not equality of lake views) are one of the key differences between the spin-off and the original—all thanks to the Coordinate system.
The last performance of Crossing Pulteney Street of the academic year will be held on the inauguration of Reading Days (because we are down to make it a good one) beneath the Scissors statue on Pulteney Street. Tickets available through Venmo or when tabling in Scandling. Food trucks on the Quad to follow (free meal ticket available upon completion of Sodexo dining survey). And if you can’t make it to the infamous Pulteney Street herself on May 6, be sure to find this smashing hit debuting on the Beef & Brew fireplace later that night, because 70 years later this tale is as timeless as ever.
He’s a proud Hobart Man.
She’s a strong William Smith Woman.
But to be together, they’ll be…
CROSSING PULTENEY STREET
Next performance: Monday, May 6, 2019 beneath the Scissors statue