Theatrefolk Featured Play - Tough City, Prone to Rain

Welcome to our Featured Play Spotlight. The one-act noir comedy, Tough City, Prone to Rain by Alan Haehnel, is perfect for a competition piece – easy to stage, with a large cast and fun to play!

In a city like this one – cold, dark, cynical, and often rainy – there are more places to hide than to be found. And let’s not forget about the shark-infested waters.

Donna Rockbridge needs the women (not dolls, dames, or sweethearts) from the Broadly Speaking Detective Agency to find her twin brother before trouble does. They’re ready to take on the case. Just don’t ask their secretary to answer the door; he hasn’t quite mastered doors and phones yet.

Why did we publish this play?

This play is absolutely delightful from beginning to end. Film noir is a great genre for educational theatre and Alan hits it so strongly. We also love that there are so many women characters (the Detectives of the Broadly Speaking Detective Agency are not dolls, dames, or sweethearts) and there are a number of characters that could be played by any gender. Awesome for competition and easy to stage, get your copy today!

Let's hear from the author!

1. Why did you write this play?

This play came about as a collaboration with Trina and David Byard. I had put out an invitation to write new shows for people who might have concepts that they were having a hard time finding scripts for, and David contacted me with Trina’s idea of a cartoonish, comic noir that would allow her to do a costume and makeup design she’s long dreamt of. We tossed around several ideas. One of the most compelling was “Dick Tracy meets Bullwinkle.” Over several weeks back and forth, the play was born!

2. Describe the theme in one or two sentences?

This is less a theme-driven piece than a style-driven one. It’s all about noir, really pushing that genre to a comic level. Of course, noir is all about smoke and back alleys and trusting no one–which turns out to be a blast to treat in an unserious way. We also slipped in the powerful women, which was a nice twist for an era that generally didn’t honor women as we might have hoped.

3. What's the most important visual for you in this play?

The ensemble dressed in those cartoon-inspired costumes, especially the three women of the Broadly Speaking Detective Agency.

4. If you could give one piece of advice for those producing the play, what would it be?

Study the noir style and push it hard.

5. Why is this play great for student performers?

The characters are fun stereotypes with a lot of history, particularly in American film. Students can quickly identify and latch onto the types and then make them their own.

6. Who is your favourite character in the play?

I most identify with Earl, and I would love to find ways to make him both fit with the genre and stand out comically.

7. What is your favourite line in the play?

This one came early in the process and really drove the creation: “Whose says gumshoes can’t wear high heels?”