When the Rains Come

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 all

A 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.

The story is of a young white girl, Emily and Kenyele, the young black son of her nanny, Gausaulaulau. It is the tale 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.

Emily and Kenyele are separated by Cyril, her father, and  twenty years later they find one another,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. WHEN THE RAINS COME is the story of their betrayal and imprisonment and ultimately, of the profound transformation of all who know them.

WHEN 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.

“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 inside

WHEN THE RAINS COME was featured at the 2001 Festival of New Musicals in New York City, September 2001.

WHEN THE RAINS COME inspired the recording of INTO THE HEART OF THE SANGOMA with extended storytelling with spellbinding lyrics and music. http://annmortifee.com/2010/05/into-the-heart-of-the-sangoma/

Please email eskova@annmortifee.com for more information about co-creatively producing this show.