BWW Reviews: HumanArts Give Masterful Flavor to THE DIVINERS

The Diviners
by Jim Leonard, Jr.
directed by RoZsa Horvath
HumanArts Theatre Company @
the Secret Rose Theatre, NoHo
through June 19

Some thirty+ years ago, a young playwright Jim Leonard, Jr. composed a very odd play entitled The Diviners, which has become somewhat of a minor classic. Diviners means prophets or soothsayers, as well as in this context representing those who seek water. It's Indiana during the Great Depression circa 1930 when folks needed not only rain, but an ample supply of hope/faith. In this production of the play, inaugurating the HumanArts Theatre Company, an outstanding cast and superb staging make The Diviners the little theatrical gem that sets it apart.

When I say odd, I mean it in the most endearing way, as its leading character Buddy Layman (Michael Beck) is a precious boy burdened/blessed with afflictions. He almost drowned as a child, and as a result of trying to save him, his mother drowned instead. This complicated motherless child has a teenage sister Jennie Mae (Liza Miranda) and a mechanic father Ferris (Mark Howard) who both attend to him with love and patience. Having the ability to divine water, Buddy pays a tremendous price, as he suffers from body itch caused by ringworm. He cannot be bathed properly, because he is deathly afraid of water. Ironic, that he can divine its presence, but cannot tolerate to be put in contact with it. Suddenly there arrives in town a former preacher C.C. Showers, passing through and in need of work. C.C. takes a job with Ferris, befriends the boy and gets a truckload of attention from not only Jennie Mae, but from every woman in town. C.C. attempts to cure the boy's fear and disease, and almost succeeds, but he must pay a price as well. Refusing to accept that he is still a minister of God, he finds himself torn apart, especially since the female townsfolk witness first hand his spiritual qualities. The tragedy that opens and ends the play is ironic as well, for in spite of the sadness of death, it seems to adhere to God's plan in bringing C.C. back to the fold and bringing Buddy into the arms of his mother. A strange play with such inner beauty!

The cast, no pun intended, are nothing short of divine under director RoZsa Horvath's steady and knowing hand. Beck is wonderfully honest and simple as Buddy, never going too far. He makes him completely lovable. The same earthiness may be applied to Barker as C.C., Miranda as Jennie Mae and Howard as Ferris. Their actions and feelings are consistently true. Other standouts in the twelve person cast are Steven L. Rogers as Basil, Crystal Lott, very appealing and amusing as waitress Goldie, Sharon Samples as the straight-laced Norma Henshaw and Ben Rogers as young Dewey, so genuinely awkward in first love. Mark Howard has designed a perfectly functional set that makes clear connections with earth, water and sky.

This is a lovely first production for HumanArts and long may they play in NoHo! The Diviners will grab hold of you and keep you in the palm of its hand. It's a must see!

 

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