Rain

By John Colton and
Clemence Randolph
Adapted from
Somerset Maugham.

Produced: October, 1976
Wayne State College
Director: Helen Russell
Scenery: Arthur Dirks
Facility:Ramsey Auditorium
Notes:

In this early design I had not yet grasped how a setting can really embody the feel of a play. It was pretty hard to get any sense of claustrophobia from this set, no matter what could be done with lighting. The actors practically had to run to make their blocking around the space.

I remember that we considered raining off the porch roof, but it was open above so it didn't make a lot of sense. We primarily used lighting to suggest the rain, but it was hard to be very convincing. The lighting received no help from the gym floor finish on the stage, and I had not yet grasped the importance of covering the floor. My struggles with the tops of walls is evident here, as are my continuing efforts to achieve a good wallpaper. The shaped portal was an interesting innovation, but I don't think it ever showed up.