Review: RAINMAKER Makes a Splash at Buck Creek Players

A period of intense drought hardly seems the breeding ground for either hilarity or romance, but RAINMAKER somehow manages to make a drought the perfect setting for both. Its fast-paced dialogue and intense characters help it strike a balance of fun and thought-provoking moments.

Celeste:

The action of RAINMAKER centers around the Curry family, who are the epitome of a western family. There's a strong father, his two strapping sons, and his daughter all trying to live out their ideals and find satisfaction in life.

The Curry family is anchored by its patriarch, and Tim Latimer does an excellent job bringing to life a father who evokes respect and authority. Although he may not get the most laughs or have much to do directly with the romance, it is H.C. Curry who helps to subtly guide the family to reach their potential, and he is proud to fall in some paint or defend a criminal to do it.

If H.C. is the anchor of the family, then Jim Curry is the dinghy that floated away to find adventure. Joe Wagner is massively funny and lightens the mood of every scene. He is hotheaded, silly, and risky, but he is also brave enough to try and fail in life. Joe's antics and character development make Jimmy a joy to watch on stage.

Noah Curry is the least likeable of the bunch, but his stern and practical ways belie the heart of someone truly dedicated to his family. Matt Spurlock has a deep intensity in his delivery, and his spars with H.C. as the family confronts its trials were extremely heated. The father-son dynamic was palpable from the audience.

Finally, Lizzie Curry draws them all together because it is her plight of potentially becoming an old maid that has put the family into such a tizzy. This is further exasperated when the sheriff (John Joyner), his deputy File (Corey Yeaman), and a "rainmaker" (Steve Jerk) become inadvertently involved. Jenni White gave a stirring performance that showed a vast range of thought and feeling in Lizzie's character. She is a tug-of-war between brazen intelligent conviction and self-doubt mixed with low self-esteem. It is up to the RAINMAKER to show her which side should win.

Dylan:

Director Tim Spradlin uses a stock plot device, the awakening of an insecure female to realize her true potential as a woman, through the influence of a strong male. In this case, the repressed Lizzie (Jenni White), like a budding flower, is subjected to the flattering attentions of Starbuck (Steve Jerk), a confidence man in search of himself. Jerk certainly has the look - the tall, dark and handsome type - and he even came with the smooth-talking magnetism that pulled together Starbuck's facade. The strength of Nash's piece made both Lizzie and Starbuck likeable in their vulnerability.

The blonde and selfless Jenni White was enchanting as Lizzie. Exhibiting a breadth of emotion worthy of a Chekhov heroine, White conveys hopelessness, feistiness, and wit. When she lets down her hair we clearly see a profound transformation.

The soul of the production truly lays in Tim Latimer's understated performance as Mr. Curry who erupted with feeling when worried about his daughter. With his low-key folksiness, mature features, and sad eyes, the Latimer resembled a Walker Evans Depression-era photograph and his western drawl completed his moving characterization.

The stage is set with period living and dining room furniture, there's a staircase and a front door. Hanging over it all is a swirling curved wooden structure indicating the roof which helped add depth. This clever set design by John Walker was amplified by the lighting prowess of Eric Matters. Matters' crisp lighting design evokes the dusty sheen of the era and locale, and some vintage country music recordings and effects are wonderfully realized by Spradlin's sound design. To complete the getup, Lynn Sanders definitely did not hold back. The costumes were complete with jeans, vests, cowboy boots, and rustic dresses.

When the Curry family found themselves in the midst of a drought, little did they know that the drought went beyond the one outside, and the rain that was to come would sow the seeds within themselves for peace and happiness.

Be sure not to miss this heartwarming performance ending this weekend!

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