[Illustration: Rain Box. Wind producing Drum.]
The sound of rain is produced by means of a rain box, fashioned in the
following way. Two uprights are fixed on a common base and a large
oblong box is fixed between them by means of a couple of pivots in its
sides. This box is filled with small stones and the rain-producer stands
at one end of the box and moves it up and down, thus tilting the stones
to and fro in the box. Strange as it will appear to anyone not in the
secret, this moving of small stones in a box produces the sound of heavy
rain to those sitting in the auditorium. Of course, if rain is to be
seen on the stage it may be the real thing—so far as the water is
concerned—but it is seldom needed, and then only for a few seconds; in
any case, a play that needs such an elaborate effect will probably not
be looked upon with favour by any company of amateur players.