"Diviners" as Directed By Richard Folmer

In Jim Leonard Jr.'s gothic prairie melodrama, a disillusioned Kentucky preacher named C. C. Showers takes work on a farm in a fictional hamlet named Zion - population forty - where the local soothsayer is a raving teenage boy. The youth has been abnormally terrified of water since age four when his mother drowned saving him. Miraculously, Buddy seems to have been left with a gift: he can locate precious underground aquifers. Buddy is a diviner. The two become fast friends and C.C. soon finds himself acting as Buddy's mentor and teacher. He seems to be able to relate to Buddy in ways that most people can't. Shortly after settling in, C. C. reveals that he is a former preacher who has lost faith in his vocation. That knowledge changes everything. The townsfolk have been praying for a preacher. The conflict of interests soon evolves into a crisis that leads to a great tragedy. The brilliant cast weaves a tapestry of characters for us that is rich, deep, and full of life. T L Kolman's 'The Diviners' reveals why Jim Leonard Jr.'s powerful Depression-era fable is a splendidly complex, deeply moving play. It is in turns humorous, beautiful, and tragic; and surprisingly speaks of many present day concerns with gentle wisdom.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• diviners
• theatre
• arts
• richard folmer
• director
• shreveport
• louisiana