The Rainmaker at Old Academy Players

It is summer in the southwest and a long unrelenting drought has left farmers and ranchers desperate for rainfall. One such ranch belongs to the Currys, H.C. the father, his two sons Noah and Jim and his daughter Lizzie. Into their midst comes a wandering, flamboyant huckster of a man, Starbuck, who promises that he has the power to bring rain. Everyone is skeptical at first, but his high-flown eloquence wins over the impressionable Jim, the skeptical Noah and even the sensible H.C. Only Lizzie holds out that he is a charlatan. Lizzie's lonely life has crabbed her spirits and made her suspicious and resigned to spinsterhood. It is the interaction between her and Starbuck that makes this play soar as Lizzie comes to appreciate herself under his dazzling spell. There is great comedy as well with Jim and his quest for his girl friend's little red hat. A wonderful play that was made into the musical 110 in the Shade.

Authors

• N. Richard Nash