Most theatres have at least a one-year window on their choice of material. In other words, the shows you see today were likely chosen last year or even the year before. So, it’s ironic and also timely that, while the Quad Cities is experiencing drought conditions, Richmond Hill Players brings to the boards N. Richard Nash’s classic 1954 dramatic comedy, The Rainmaker, the classic tale of a smooth-talking con man who travels the drought ravaged southwest during the depression promising distressed farmers he can bring rain…for $100, that is.
The story centers on the Curry family, particularly the plain, unmarried daughter Lizzie, whose father and brothers are desperate to find her a suitor as their farm fails. The play is a warm, funny, and inspirational romantic comedy that explores themes of hope, self-belief, dreams, and love. It inspired a 1956 film adaptation starring Burt Lancaster and Kathryn Hepburn as well as a musical adaptation under the title 110 in the Shade. The main characters include Lizzie Curry, the charismatic Bill Starbuck, her father the somewhat clueless H.C., and her brothers Noah, who manages the farm and the family, and the young Jimmy.
After the men’s attempt to set Lizzie up with the town’s deputy sheriff fails, Starbuck, an expert at reading his audience, wanders in and flimflams the men into paying him the $100 and zeros in on Lizzie transforming her into the self-confident, capable woman she truly is while falling for her himself.
Taking on the titular role of Starbuck is the multi-talented Jacob Lund. I have seen Jacob grow from a teenager hanging around at Genesius Guild into bigger and bigger roles and he has hit a grand slam home run in this part. He captures the bigger than life braggadocio of a charming cad that you can’t help but love.
With a laudable theatre background but making her RHP debut as the lachrymose Lizzie is the captivating Sally Hamer. Her portrayal is genuine and sympathetic without stepping over the line from comedy to melodrama. The only drawback is that she’s too pretty to believe that she can’t attract a guy on her own.
Rounding out the family is Gary Talsky as H.C., Ethan Sundeen as Jimmy, and Gregory O’Neill as Noah. Talsky’s and Sundeen’s characterizations were spot on, especially Sundeen who’s just recently out of high school so the level of his characterization is impressive, but both of them need to amp up their projection. Both I and my husband could not hear much of their dialog. The stand-out was definitely O’Neill who generates the laughs with Noah’s frustration with his father’s laissez faire approach to Lizzie, Jimmy’s hormone fueled pursuit of a certain young lady, and finding Lizzie a husband – all while trying to run the farm as their cattle die in the drought scourged fields. And we could hear every word he said.
Director Joe DePauw faced a real challenge bringing this production to RHP’s extremely small performance area which cramped the action. Additionally, furniture and some props were not era appropriate and entrances and exits were a bit muddled. But, hey, we mainly come to see the acting, right?
The Rainmaker continues at Richmond Hill Players Barn Theatre in Geneseo, Thursday through Saturday, June11 through June 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 14 at 3:00 p.m.
I’m Chris Hicks…break a leg.