Have you ever heard the story about a little rain cloud who falls in love with a human? In a marvelously charming student production at American University, love transcends time, space, and weather in a fable-like story of romance and friendship. Director Nick Martin presents a playful rendition of Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea, a play by Julia Izumi based loosely on Hans Christian Andersen’s story “The Little Mermaid.” But don’t expect to see women with fishtails or underwater kingdoms here. Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea is not a retelling but a parallel story, slightly similar but fundamentally different. Scene from ‘Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea.’ Photo by Elena Zimmerman. The play begins by introducing Rain Cloud, a playful being who radiates with wonder, played with marvelous enthusiasm by Jalyn Edrington. She’s not just a rain cloud — she’s a rain cloud with a soul, and a deep fascination with the humans who wander below her holding “sheets on sticks,” or as we know them, umbrellas. When Rain Cloud spots Ralmond, who walks without an umbrella and turns his face up to the sky with admiration for the wet weather, it’s love at first sight. Well, at least for her it is. Ralmond has a girlfriend at home, and he’s not interested in dating a cloud. But Rain Cloud has already decided she will do whatever it takes to win over her love interest, even if it means changing everything about who she is. Not long after Rain Cloud and Ralmond have set the stage for a love story not unlike “The Little Mermaid,” the scene abruptly switches to a young man and woman meeting for the first time on a city street. It’s clear that we are now in a different story, and somebody’s not happy about it. Dolan, played by Niko Pikar, breaks the fourth wall and laments to the audience about this error. He introduces himself as the author of “The Little Rain Cloud” and he is insistent on getting back to the main narrative. But despite being the writer of this tale, Dolan just can’t keep his story on track. And so begins the intertwining of fantasy, fact, and fiction. While this play first feels like a quirky, abstract retelling of “The Little Mermaid,” it soon becomes evident that there’s a lot more to the story than meets the eye. The narrative is blended with Hans Christian Andersen’s other famous tales, and his own story as well. Hans Christian Andersen’s personal life is not as well-known as his famed fairy tales, but it’s just as dramatic. His romantic history encompasses a long list of lovers who either didn’t feel the same way as he did or chose to be with someone else. His own personal heartbreaks are told through vignettes in the play as characters slip into misplaced scenes where they call each other by names like Riborg, Jenny, and Edvard, names of the real-life Andersen’s loves. What begins as a simple fairy tale retelling becomes a tortured look into the life of a tortured man. It’s a fascinating way to take a peek into the psyche of one of the most important writers in history. TOP: Scene from ‘Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea’; ABOVE: The cast of ‘Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea.’ Photos by Elena Zimmerman. The cast of this production is small but mighty, and the talent is undeniable. Every member of the cast is astonishingly wonderful. It’s hard to describe how well each of them fits into their role. Jalyn Edrington plays Rain Cloud with endearing expressions of wonder and a heart of gold. Olivia Hunter brings a serenity and sincerity to the honest Ralmond, who is kind to Rain Cloud but committed to his beloved Midi, played by Elisa Manning, who comes off tough at first but becomes an equally lovable character in her own right. Grace Tingen plays Bessie the cow, Rain Cloud’s best friend and emotional sounding board, who has a lot of interiority of her own, despite most of her lines being “Moo.” Vish Shukla and Grace Awono are Edvard and Ina, the couple who first interrupt the story of Rain Cloud with their own saga, and they have wonderful chemistry with a “will they, won’t they” charm. And Madison Troost as Little One, a mischievous young girl interfering with the story, skips around the stage so light on her feet, grinning like a Cheshire cat, that it’s impossible to believe she isn’t actually a small child. It’s Niko Pikar as Dolan who is the beating heart of this show. Pikar plays his character with equal parts charm and arrogance, creating a narrator that the audience can’t help but fall in love with. As he tries desperately to get his own story back on track, he becomes more and more intertwined in the stories of the others, leading to a heartwrenching and unforgettable ending. The crew does a wonderful job at making all the elements of this production come together harmoniously. The lighting and sound designs are simple and effective, and the set design is modest, with a few rain clouds that the cast expertly wheels on and off stage and a few props, like soft chairs and a small table, that quickly convert scenes from the rainy sky to the cozy indoors. Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea is a mosaic of stories that all come together in a bright array of color. This completely unique production is more spunky and lighthearted than a traditional Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, yet more grounded than the fantasy retellings we’re often shown. And like any good fairy tale, there is a moral to the story: love is the most important thing we have. Running Time: One hour and 20 minutes, no intermission. Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea plays November 19 to 22, 2024, presented by the American University Department of Performing Arts performing at the Studio Theatre, Katzen Arts Center, 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW. For tickets ($10–$15, free for AU students), call (202) 885-3634 or order online. The run of this show is SOLD OUT but check back for additional availability. Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea By Julia Izumi Directed by Nick Martin CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION TEAM Directed by Nick Martin; Movement Director: Francesca Maria Chilcote; Resident Intimacy Director: Sierra Young; Lighting Design by Mike Riggs; Scenic Design by Lin Luo (Thea); Costume shop manager, Co-Costume and Props Designer: Sydney Moore; Sound Design Mentor: Neil McFadden; Fight Choreography by Robb Hunter; Stage Management Mentor: Martita Slayden-Robinson; Artistic Director, AU Theatre/Musical Theatre Program: Aaron Posner; Director, AU Theatre/Musical Theatre Program: Jason Arnold; Props Team: Olivia Luzquinos, Sydney Moore, Finn Fairfield, Jillian Skara, Kate Grimble, Hanna DiGiovanni, and Josie Palmarini STUDENT PRODUCTION TEAM Assistant Director and Dramaturg: Maddy Cooper; Assistant Movement Director: Madison Troost; Costume Design by Ted Hill; Sound Design by Sam Farace; Fight Captain: Vish Shukla; Stage Manager: Kate Grimble; Assistant Stage Manager: Hanna DiGiovanni; Assistant Stage Manager: Lucille Rieke; Wardrobe Crew: Mira Rose Morris and Kate Zimmerman CAST Rain Cloud: Jalyn Edrington Dolan: Niko Pikar Ralmond: Olivia Hunter Midi: Elisa Manning Edvard: Vish Shukla Ina: Grace Awono Little One: Madison Troost Bessie: Grace Tingen Midi and Little One u/s: Thuliliani Chiura Rain Cloud and Ina u/s: Bitaniya Menkir Dolan u/s: Ben Kamins Edvard and Ralmond u/s: Roderick Purdy Bessie u/s: Maddy Cooper