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Lyrics by Ann Mortifee Book by Ann Mortifee in collaboration with David Feinstein
Music by Ann Mortifee score in collaboration with Edward Hendersen
When the rains come
And water the earth with a sweet song
When the rains come
The dust in my heart......it will be gone
When the rains come
And for a moment the earth turns green
Then we will dream again
Of how life can be again
Simple and free again
With plenty for allA passionate, mythic musical set in South Africa, WHEN THE RAINS COME invokes a healing vision of what lies beyond the dualistic struggle that gave rise to apartheid. Universal in its scope, WHEN THE RAINS COME draws the audience into a soul-searching encounter with what is possible when personal love and the strength of the collective soul of the people unite.
WHEN THE RAINS COME is the story of a young white girl, Emily, and Kenyele, the young black son of her nanny; of their innocent love for one another; and of how, throughout their separate lives, they are watched over by a Sangoma, a powerful Zulu shaman who knows that the hand of destiny is guiding them and that it is they who symbolize a new possibility for humanity.
WHEN THE RAINS COME is the story of the jealousy of Emily's brother, Brian, and of the heartfelt friendship between Gausaulaulau and Audrey, the mothers of the children. It is the story of how Emily and Kenyele are separated by Cyril, the father, and of how they find each other again twenty years later, after Emily has become a successful journalist fighting against the oppression of apartheid, and Kenyele has become one of the leaders of the Black Freedom Movement. It is about the love that blossoms between them when they realize that, in spirit, they have never actually been apart. RAINS is the story of their betrayal and imprisonment and ultimately, of the profound transformation of all who know them.
WHEN THE RAINS COME invokes the collective soul of humanity as an ally and urges each of us to align with that ally to address injustices wherever they appear on the planet. It is a clarion's call to evolutionary action!
"I always wanted to make a gesture towards South Africa. It was the beginning of so much for me. The Zulu fairy tales, the dancing, the singing really shaped my artistry. It really feels like this is my gesture, my way of giving back to the country that the white population has taken so much out of."
Ann Mortifee
You can't see a new tomorrow
With yesterday's eyes
You can't bring peace to this world
With hatred insideWHEN THE RAINS COME was created in response to the struggle for freedom in South Africa. Even though apartheid (apartness) has been politically abolished, its ravages against the human heart live on. And with the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 our desire to create works that benefit the human spirit has become more impassioned than ever.
If the world is to be safe for every human being, regardless of race, creed or color, then each one of us must embrace with our whole mind, our whole heart, our whole spirit, the ways of love, courage and simple human kindness to all.
We stand at a crossroad. The time is now. We look to Nomkhubulwana, Mother of All Creation, bringer of rain, to make us wise in this time of decision. May we be cleansed. May we be healed. May we remember our kinship with one another and with all the Earth.
Ann Mortifee, David Feinstein, Ed Henderson, Dwayne Edward Rourke
Please email eskova@annmortifee.com for more information about co-creatively producing this show.