South to run 110 in the Shade
by Sandy Stamper, Reporter

   The South Campus continues its American Dreams season with the musical 110 in the Shade, based on the play and movie The Rainmaker by N. Richard Nash.
   110 in the Shade begins in a Western state during the depression era with the return of Lizzie Curry, who is far into spinsterhood, despite the continuous matchmaking efforts of her father, H.C., and her brothers, Noah and Jimmy.
   Lizzie has an eye for the town’s sheriff, File, but ever since his wife left him, he has retreated behind a veneer of self-sufficiency.
   The story takes place in a time when the town is suffering from an almost intolerable drought.
   The plot thickens with the arrival of Starbuck, a con man, who promises to produce the miracle of rain for a fee of $100.
   When his luck has run out with the law, he has managed, along with other acts of hocus-pocus, to convince Lizzie that she is truly a beautiful woman.
   By the end of the story, Lizzie finds love, and the town receives the much-needed rain.
   The play includes songs such as “Gonna Be Another Hot Day,” ”You’re Not Foolin’ Me,” “A Man and a Woman” and “Love, Don’t Turn Away,” with lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt.
   Robert Malone plays Lizzie’s younger brother, Jimmy, who throughout the play deals with his first love, Snookie. At the same time, he tries to get his sister married and deals with the pressures of everyday life.
   “Jimmy is very innocent, very naive, in love, very honest and good hearted,” he said. “He doesn’t really see any bad in the world.”
   David Crouch, a sophomore liberal arts student, plays the apple of Lizzie’s eye, Sheriff File.
   Crouch describes File as someone who wants to be a friend but at the same time does not want anyone to get too close to him.
   Divorced, he is in love with Lizzie but does not want to tell her.
   Kit Hussey plays the ever-doting father, H.C. Curry.
   Along with trying to marry his daughter off, Curry has a farm and cattle suffering from the terrible drought, Hussey said.
   “H.C. is just a very caring father who wants the best for all of his family and is particularly concerned about Lizzie,” he said.
   Jessica Foster, vocal performance student, plays the would-be spinster, Lizzie Curry.
   “Lizzie feels like she’s not attractive, but yet she is a very intelligent woman,” she said.
   According to Doug Davidson, director, “Starbuck is a fantastical dreamer and storyteller who says he can bring rain, stop tornados and do other such miracles for money, but of course that’s not true.”
   Starbuck (Anthony Cearley) is afraid the town will learn he is a fraud.
   Davidson said the show is full of people with big dreams for themselves and their families, thus, fitting this semester’s theatre season theme American Dreams.
   Crouch said the play is about searching for feelings and trying to find out one’s true identity.
   The show runs Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 20-22 at 7:30 p.m. with a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee.
   Tickets are free for TCC students, faculty and staff; $3 for other students and seniors and $5 for general public. Call 817-515-4642 for reservations.