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The Diviners
By Jim Leonard, Jr.
Directed by Emily Korff
Produced by Speaking Ring Theatre
At National Pastime Theatre
4139 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL
Call 3120458-9374, tickets $20 - $15 students & seniors
Thursdays & Fridays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 4 & 8 pm
Sundays at 4 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 10 minutes with intermission
Through April 5, 2008
Well acted Depression Era fable worth seeing
Speaking Ring Theatre closes their 17th season with Jim Leonard, Jr.’s The Diviners. This fable of faith, fate, family and rural community is a fine drama. Set in rural Indiana in the early 1930’s, we meet C.C. Showers (Joe Adamczak), a former preacher from Kentucky who is an itinerant worker now who wonders into Zion, Indiana in search of employment. He lands a job in Ferris Layman’s (Laurence Bryan) auto repair show and befriends Buddy Layman (Dave Urlakis in a masterfully brave and honest performance), who is the town’s resident “divine” or “finder of water.” The ex-preacher and the touch boy develop a mutually rewarding relationship as each struggles to confront their deepest fears.
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The small community depends on Buddy to find water in drought-stricken times and now turns to C.C. to save their faith and spirits. This charming play is filled with original bluegrass music and it is peopled by wholesome down-home folks. These rural people love the land and have a strong sense of spiritualism based on nature and a Bible ethic. Love, friendship and family in a slower lifestyle dominant here. Basically an allegorical play, The Diviners, is rich almost metaphysical fable of gifted ones fighting their gifts and fate. The actions lead to a tragedy.
Dave Urlakis is wonderful as the mental-challenged boy. Joe Adamczak, Laurence Bryan and Erin Orr were notable from an ensemble that mounted fine performances. Come enter the world of rural America and see how simple folks struggled to find meaning in the tough times. Speaking Ring Theatre has presented a worthy drama. You’ll like this show as I did.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2008
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