 110 In the Shade
Music by Harvey Schmidt: Lyrics by Tom Jones: Book by N. Richard Nash.
Based on the comedy The Rainmaker by N. Richard Nash
Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway - October 24, 1963 (330 perfs)
Palace Theatre, London - 8 February, 1967
THE STORY
Act I
The train station of a drought-stricken Western town - early morning,
the beginning of Another Hot Day.
Lizzie, a plain-looking girl had left town hoping to find a husband but
she has failed. In rushes Jim Curry expecting his sister Lizzie on the
morning train. He is joined by older brother Noah and father H.C. Lizzie
arrives and confesses that her trip didn't work. She met lots of eligible
men, but ..... Her menfolk decide to try another plan; they'll invite
Sheriff File, the town's most eligible bachelor, to the annual picnic.
In File's office, the men try to lure the sheriff to the picnic but he
refuses. Meanwhile, at the park, Lizzie, expecting File, joins in the
picnic preparations but she becomes angry and hurt when she learns he
is not coming. Out of nowhere,a stranger, the Fabulous Starbuck suddenly
appears, announcing that he's a Rainmaker and for the modest fee of $100
dollars he will end the drought and cause the rain to fall.
Lizzie sees through the fraud and calls Starbuck a fake. He in turn
tells her that she is not really a woman. Lizzie turns to her father
for comfort. In fantasy, she imagines herself a wicked woman of the
world. Suddenly, File arrives at the picnic. He confesses to Lizzie
that he is not a widower, as he has been saying, but a divorced man.
He tells her in song of the heartbreak that can come to a man and a
woman. Lizzie answers by singing of the bright side of marriage, but
File is unconvinced. Lizzie calls him a fool, and is immediately sorry
- but it's too late. File - and her last chance - is gone. Noah calls
Lizzie "plain" and tells her she'll
have to face the future as an old maid. Lizzie runs off and tries to
reconcile herself to being an old maid.
Act II
The picnic pavilion. The townspeople dance and celebrate. Lizzie goes
to Starbuck's wagon. He tries to persuade her to adopt a marvellous name
and a dream to go with it. No, she explains, her dreams are all of simple
little things. Starbuck tries to convince her that she is pretty: someday
she'll see it in the eyes of the man who loves her. Starbuck kisses her
and suddenly Lizzie realises that she us being wooed by two attractive
men.
Meanwhile Starbuck confesses to Lizzie that he is a con man and a fake
- he has never made rain in his life. But, just when he has decided to
stay with Lizzie and try living in the real world, File appears with a
warrant for Starbuck's arrest. But File is persuaded by all to let Starbuck
get away. Starbuck begs Lizzie to flee with him. File, realising, at last,
that he loves her, asks her to stay with him. Lizzie decides to stay with
File. Suddenly, miracle of miracles, the rains come! The long drought
is over! |
