Rainmaker, The

Rainmaker, The (1954), a play by N. Richard Nash. [Cort Theatre, 124 perf.] The Curry family has two problems: their farm is threatened by a severe, prolonged drought, and they have been unable to marry off plain, outspoken Lizzie Curry ( Geraldine Page). Into their midst swag‐gers a handsome con man, Bill Starbuck ( Darren McGavin), who promises to bring rain for a fee of $100 and who courts Lizzie. Nature finally brings the rain; but by the time Starbuck leaves, he has given Lizzie sufficient confidence and poise for her to win a husband on her own. Although he felt it became too cluttered with symbolism near the end, Louis Kronenberger praised the work as having “a bright, brisk air and an engagingly humorous smack.” The play has remained popular in regional theatres and a 1999 revival from the Williamstown Theatre Festival was well received on Broadway. Nash wrote the libretto when it was turned into the musical 110 IN THE SHADE (1963) with a superior score by Harvey Schmidt (music) and Tom Jones (lyrics). Inga Swenson was Lizzie, Robert Horton was Starbuck, and the David Merrick production ran 331 performances in the Broadhurst Theatre. Notable songs: Simple Little Things; Little Red Hat; Everything Beautiful Happens at Night; Love, Don't Turn Away. N[athaniel] Richard NASH [né Nusbaum] (b. 1913) was born in Philadelphia and educated at the University of Pennsylvania. He wrote a number of unsuccessful plays as well as the books for the musicals Wildcat (1960) and The Happy Time (1968).