|
The
Rainmaker Director's
Notes
One
constant of the human condition is an ongoing awareness of our own vulnerability
here on Earth. Only if we are locked into deep denial can we miss the fact
that we are each always at risk in life in man ways large and small.
Medically, emotionally, financially and actually concerning any area of our
welfare, we may suffer injury and loss at any unannounced time. How we
react to our own particular absence of absolute safety and security says much
about how each one of us develops as a real life human character.
The players and situations of The Rainmaker by N. Richard Nash
bring us face to face with the question of how and where we stand as fragile
beings in a sometimes merciless world. Natural disaster as well as
personal rejection threaten the subjects of this psychological study, allowing
us to observe how each one deals with the stress. We are reminded that the
embittered person, once in awhile, flirts with optimism and that the faithful
individual cannot help but periodically wrestle with doubt. This balancing
act between the opposing forces of skepticism and hope is one we are all
familiar with, at least on a subliminal level. Mr. Nash's play brings the
conflict to the forefront for us to look at objectively. We, ourselves,
are not confronted with drought, nor with he heavy weight of the social stigma
of being unwed as were 1920's cattle country folk.
Theatre is more than simply entertainment if the story relates to the
values and understandings that we in the audience hold dear. As we step
outside to our regular lives after the show, into the complexities of political
elections, economic uncertainties and health care concerns, perhaps we will have
greater insight into our own ratio of skepticism vs. hope as we face these and
all the other trepidations of OUR times. -Sally
McCoy |