When trying to help someone you love, which is the proper approach? A brutal honesty grounded in cynicism, or a dreamy optimism which may not be grounded in reality? In Arena Stage’s production of The Rainmaker, the characters learn that a little hope can go a long way towards achieving the reality they desire.

The Rainmaker focuses on a simple western family, the Currys. The family’s two brothers, sister and father are more than anxious for a little rain, as a drought has been plaguing the area. Lizzie (Johanna Day) has been experiencing a drought of her own – a lack of single men eager to whisk her away and marry her. Lizzie would rather not dwell on this for now – she’s feisty enough to value other things, and lacks the confidence in her own appearance to think she deserves a husband. Her brothers and father, however, are more than a little eager to see her settled down, though they differ in how much faith they have in whether it will actually happen.

The play follows the machinations of the family as they wish for rain and look for lovers for Lizzie. Both efforts prove largely unsuccessful until a mysterious, hustling gentleman known as Starbuck (Michael Laurence) comes on the scene. Starbuck promises rain, and Lizzie’s initial skepticism and disgust for the charlatan eventually turns into an undeniable attraction, as Starbuck becomes the first man to truly see her as more than Lizzie, Plain and Tall.