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International Social Studies Project in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
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| The
International Social Studies Project in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
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RAINSHARKCHARACTERS |
 Mike (John Murphy) |
MIKE – runs the family farm, where the play is set. His brother Bernie moved away to Cape Town and put Mike in charge a year and a half ago. Mike was always the “wild” brother, but he doesn’t drink so much now and is trying to get his life together. However, he is having a difficult time running the farm, especially now that the drought is killing his orange trees and his employees are talking about forming a union. |
| PINKIE – came with Mike to the farm, but she didn’t expect to stay; in fact, she still hasn’t unpacked. She is waiting to move on to the seacoast, though Mike says they need to put aside some money first. She grew up in the neighboring country of Rhodesia, where she claims conditions were better, and worked as a florist. She doesn’t get involved with the farm work, but instead makes pictures out of dried flowers. She and Mike don’t get along as well as they used to. |  Pinkie (Sharlene Thomas) |
 Deirdre (Beverly Bryant) |
DEIRDRE – has been living in Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa. She is Mike’s niece, Bernie’s daughter, and she grew up on the farm. She has hitched a series of rides to get back home, which takes her almost three days. But the farm seems very different to her now, and she is anxious to leave almost as soon as she arrives. Ellington correctly notes that she has great sadness inside, but she what has caused that sadness she can’t, or won’t, say. |
| BOY – grew up with Deirdre and still lives in the town with his mother. His real name is Lionel, but no one calls him that. He is proud of his job working as the manager of the local steakhouse, and he enjoys hanging out with some of the other men in the town (they call themselves “The Club”). But as the play begins he is most excited about his newly painted van. |  Boy (Michael Rhyne) |
 Ellington (Dante Walker) |
ELLINGTON – is a stranger to this area. He meets some of Mike’s employees, who live in shacks on the farm (Mike has about 5 black men working for him, but, according to Pinkie, there are “hundreds” living in the shacks). They tell Ellington about the farm and the pool near the house. Ellington is friendly, never at a loss for words, and able to read people very well, and each of the other characters reacts to him differently. |
International Social Studies Project
UNC-CH School of Education, Peabody Hall,
CB #3500, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3500
Voice: 919-962-7879 FAX: 919-962-1533
Email: issp@unc.edu
