At first, having no idea what the play was about, I had no idea what a "diviner" was. As the play started I wondered if I would ever find out. The play starts out in Zion, Indiana, 1931, a town with a population probably no larger than the crowd assembled in the chairs around me. Zion was a place largely untouched by the outside world, a rural community roused only by the weather and anything new. They"re lives appear simpler and less encumbered than most, so small and secluded that they didn't even have a church. The people are nature-focused because they grow their own crops especially Buddy. Buddy Layman, the main character, is the reason for the title the Diviners. Buddy can divine water; he knows when it will rain, and where to dig to find it. Some don't believe it, others.
In this play, we observe a world where C.C showers (an outsider to Zion), desiring a new beginning outside of his former life of religious tradition, faces a community devoid of the figurehead he represents. Determined to label him a preacher, despite his insistence that he "give it up," the town perceives the world based upon their own set of needs. This makes communication between C.C. and the town's people less than easy. C.C. befriends Buddy Layman, a local, but as Buddy and C.C. become friends, the community perceives their friendship as a way for C.C. to "heal" Buddy. The community stands divided between friendships and salvation. They all want the best for the troubled boy. By the end of the play, they work to understand the problem, the source of the issue and the complications of implementing a cure. But just as the conflicts between the community and C.C. reach their worst, Buddy is swept away in the river and drowns.
Although a sad story, I think this was by far the best play Sammamish theatre has produced since I've been here. I really enjoyed they new people in the production, as they gave something new and exciting and definitely different to the play.
