The Rainmaker

The Rainmaker is a play by American playwright N. Richard Nash (1913-2000) [1] in the early 1950s.

The original text

Set in a drought-ridden rural town in the American West during the Depression, the play tells the story of a pivotal hot summer day in the life of spinsterish Lizzie Curry, when charming confidence trickster named Starbuck arrives and promises to bring rain in exchange for $100. His arrival sets off a series of events that enable Lizzie to see herself in a new light.

The play opened on October 28, 1954 at the Cort Theatre in New York and ran for 125 performances. It was directed by Joseph Anthony.

Translations and adaptations

The text has been translated into more than 40 languages, including Afrikaans.

Made into a film in 1956, starring Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn and into TV movie in 1982, starring Tommy Lee Jones and Tuesday Weld.

The story was also adapted into a Broadway musical called 110 in the Shade[2], with a book by N. Richard Nash, lyrics by Tom Jones, and music by Harvey Schmidt. It opened on October 24, 1963, at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York.

Translated by Fred le Roux into Afrikaans as Die Reënmaker in the early 1960s. Published by DALRO, 1972.

In 1976 another Afrikaans translation was done by André P. Brink, also entitled Die Reënmaker.

Performance history in South Africa

1956: The Rainmaker performed the Cockpit Players at the Hofmeyr Theatre, in October. Directed by Leonard Schach with Alec Bell, Brian Bell, Walter Glennie, John Hussey, Johan Nell, Zoë Randall. Decor Frank Graves. Taken on tour to Port Elizabeth, Durban, Bloemfontein and Kimberley in 1957.

1965: Die Reënmaker, in the Le Roux Afrikaans translation, was produced by CAPAB opening 28 August 1965 at the Hofmeyr Theatre under the direction of Suzanne van Wyk with Pietro Nolte (Noah Curry), Kristo Pienaar (J.C.Curry), Chris Fourie (Jimmy Curry), Babs Laker (Lizzie Curry), Dawie Maritz (File), Bruwer Engelbrecht (Mnr Thomas) and Paul Malherbe (Die Reënmaker). Decor and costumes by Bill Smuts.

1965: The Rainmaker produced by a local group in Port Elizabeth, directed by CAPAB's Pietro Nolte.

1972: Die Reënmaker, the Le Roux Afrikaans translation, was staged by PACOFS, directed by Wolfgang von Stas, starring Jan Prinsloo and Louise Mollett-Prinsloo.

1976: Die Reënmaker, in the Brink Afrikaans translation, was staged by PACT Drama in theatres in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Natal, directed by Louis van Niekerk, with David van der Merwe (N.W.Coetzee), Don Lamprecht (Nico Coetzee), James Borthwick (Jim Coetzee), Annette Engelbrecht (Lizzie Coetzee), Franz Marx (Konst. Fred Kok), Johan Malherbe (Sers. Theron) and Marius Weyers (Bill Starbuck). Decor by Johan Engels and costumes by Frances Michaletos.