Synopsis 110 in the Shade

synopsis tommy krasker, founder of ps classics records

act i

it s fourth of july in 1936, in small town of 3 point in southwestern u.s., blistering heat wave has local sheriff, file, , other townsfolk forever eyeing sky ( hot day ). elsewhere in town, on ranch of widower h.c. curry, air charged anticipation, due imminent arrival of h.c. s daughter ( lizzie s coming home ), s been off visiting friends of family (pseudo-relatives uncle ned , aunt marabelle , sons) in [sweetwater]. trip designed find lizzie husband, no avail: @ home, intelligence, sharp wit, , insecurities proved undoing. h.c. , sons, jim , noah, hatch plan invite sheriff file annual picnic lunch, lizzie can impress him prettiest party dress , tastiest picnic basket. reluctant @ first, allowing herself dream bit, lizzie agrees ( love don t turn away ).

sheriff file, unfortunately, proves immune every enticement curry boys offer ( poker polka ). mind more on sort of outlaw heading town, fellow named tornado johnson; besides knows fix-up when sees one, , puts it, can mend own shirts. jim , noah depart, h.c. stays behind tell file knows lie file s been living: file s not widower, claims be—that wife ran out on him. h.c. sees man s lonely , shut off, 1 needs lot more mendin shirts, file grows angry , defensive, , h.c. leaves him be.

as ladies @ picnic grounds await arrival of hungry men , file noticeably not among them, , although father , brothers best console her, lizzie feels sting of file s rejection. jim suggests d have more luck if flirted more—played down intelligence , told men wanted hear: lily ann beasley, has men in town weak in knees. lizzie resolute in vision of husband: want him stand straight—and want able stand straight him!

suddenly, sounds dry, rattling crack of summer thunder, , appears handsome stranger introduces himself starbuck—rainmaker. bold promises include town revivalist frenzy ( rain song ), , h.c. plunks down hundred dollars promise of rain within twenty-four hours. lizzie sees through starbuck s pretenses, , instantly sees through hers ( re not foolin me ). accusations touch nerve, , exits, childhood song runs through head ( cinderella ) darkens mood further. feeling need out of me while, imagines different sort of lizzie curry ( raunchy ).

file appears unexpectedly @ picnic grounds and, still insistent has right alone, nonetheless reaches out lizzie, coming clean past and, despite himself, revealing old wounds ( man , woman ). start open each other, lizzie s candid comments—and feeble attempts retract them—drive file away in fury. family appears instantly grill her, , noah lashes out @ father s efforts console her, insisting accept reality s going end alone. lizzie, terror in heart, faces future ( old maid ).

act ii

as twilight approaches, lovers still haunt picnic grounds. starbuck there well, alone , quiet, doing bit of soul-searching ( evenin star , added 2007 revival). others merely admire majesty of night sky ( beautiful happens @ night ). lizzie, though, twilight means putting end daydreams. , yet, still in search of can t quite define, finds herself drawn starbuck s camp. sensing discontent, encourages dream again—this time far beyond small-town horizons ( melisande ). instinctively defensive, before, lizzie counters dreams different kind ( simple little things ), feeling ll never wants, breaks down. starbuck grabs her, encouraging see herself through own eyes, , not fears others view her; takes pins out of hair , insists recognize own beauty. lights fade begin make love.

back @ picnic area, jim boasting of own fourth of july adventures ( little red hat ) when file arrives tell curry clan s on lookout tornado johnson—aka rainmaker starbuck. understands h.c. gave him hundred dollars promise of rain, h.c., aware lizzie starbuck, refuses reveal whereabouts. noah shocked father willing leave lizzie alone conman, h.c. understands daughter s needs, if s 1 minute—with man talkin quiet , hand touchin face. , @ starbuck s tent, s precisely s happening, starbuck shares difficult secret: never made rain in life! not single raindrop! lizzie counsels him s not live in dreams, notes s not live outside of them, either. concluded best way live somewhere between 2 ( me? ).

as curry family awaits lizzie s arrival, mood silent , tense. appears joyous , transformed ( ve got new beau! ), , when file arrives arrest starbuck, entire curry clan defends him. starbuck implores lizzie join him in travels, , file—suddenly aware of needs , might lose—steps forward plead own case ( wonderful music ). lizzie, new sense of own worth, makes decision. starbuck exits parts unknown, low rumble of thunder ushers in sudden cloudburst, less twenty-four hours of arrival. , townspeople revel @ heavy downpour ( rain song reprise), lizzie , file rejoice in promise of hope , renewal rainfall brings.