Alabama’s Official Folk Life Play, “Come Home, It’s Suppertime” opened Thursday night at the We Piddle Around Theater in Brundidge. The curtain went up and the rain came down.

Ordinarily, rain would not be a concern at an indoor theater but the We Piddle Around Theater is no ordinary theater, said Lawrence Bowden, president of the sponsoring Brundidge Historical Society.

“The theater has a tin roof, which is ideal for a folk life theater …. until it rains,” Bowden said, with a smile. “We have had to compete with rain pelting on the tin roof before, but nothing like opening night. It was just almost impossible to hear. We thought about stopping the play for a while but we didn’t know how long the rain would continue.”

Fortunately, Bowden said the rain stopped with only two scenes being wash-outs.

“We greatly appreciate the support and understanding of the audience,” he said. “It was a great audience. They laughed and seemingly had a good time. But, then, there’s nothing like rain on a tin roof.”

Bowden said the We Piddle Around Theater opened 18 years ago and for several years, there was no heating or air conditioning in the historic Works Progress Administration building. The audiences came prepared with winter coats or “funeral home” fans.

But the greatest challenge to date had nothing to do with the elements. It was the night a transformer blew and the whole town went black.

“We performed several scenes in the light of a flashlight,” Bowden said.

As it’s said in show business and even small town theater, “the show must go on.”

“Come Home, It’s Suppertime” continues this weekend and Thursday through Saturday November 14-16. Tickets for the fall performance are sold out.

The next event at the We Piddle Around Theater is the annual “Chili Country Christmas” with “The Dill Pickers” a vocal string band from “up north” on Friday, December 6. For more information call 685-5524.