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The I AMY SBARDELLA Staff Writer "The Diviners" may be described, as one cast member put it, as the story of "an idiot boy with ringworm who drowns." This particular tale of small town angst performed to a sold-out crowd Saturday night at Workshop Theater. Strains of bluegrass greeted the audience, which represented all ages, but primarily drew from Columbia's older population. The play is set in rural Indiana during the 1930's, and the simplicity of the people and times is underscored by a minimalist set including a riverbank of sloping shale and silhouettes of a fence and a tree against a backdrop of lighting which gradually blends from deep mauve to bright blue as the days and nights delicately fold into each other. In Zion, Indiana, one day could just as well be another as the cyclical activities of farming drive the action. Against beautiful, stark backdrop, we are told the story of Buddy Layman, a pre-adolescent who, ever since his mother drowned, exists in a twilight of stunted mental development in which he refers to himself in the second person, is terrorized by a primal fear of water and haunted by the voice of * * ? " * ? t . l _ I his dead mother, tor whom ne yearns ana seeKs m the wind and the trees. Buddy's father and sister are resigned to Buddy's fear of water to the point of Buddy contracting a severe case of ringworm. But Buddy possesses gifts that no one can understand. He can "divine" water with a forked stick, thereby saving crops and the very life of the community. He is most appreciated by Basil, the old sage winningly portrayed by Monty Blanton, who understands how Buddy "feels it in his bones." One could easily nestle into the charm and nostalgia of these people who consider tractors, lightbulbs and Singer sewing machines technology, but the playwright, Jim Leonard, Jr., bombards us with didactic symbolism targeting blind religion. An ex-preacher, C.C. Showers, comes to town looking for honest work. Adamantly denouncing preaching, as "thinkin' and preachin' don't mix too well," Showers is taken in by Buddy's father, and unwittingly shakes up the town with expectations of revival. All of a sudden things are a flurry with gossipy, meddling, mindless women who alight like harpies on Showers' every move, which they discit ac nn 4t I brought to you I conterra (I COMMUNICATION s/^j Newspaper v|||||| http://www. usatoday.com | J|:.3; Museum v http://www.exploratorium.ei Rodney Dangerfield http://www.rodney.com ||y lllfi Music http://www.resrocket.com Employment Opportunii http://www.occ.com I For more information, contact Conterra C email Ross m73582@conterra.com or ca Thomas Cooper I Mid-term Library October 30 - Novemb< Building Tours: Unnrlqii- 11 am Iivivsi ivic* j Mm Tuesday: 11 am Wednesday: 2 & 7 pm Thursdsay: 4 pm The Building Tours will last approximately 30 minutes. The tour will such as Reference. Science Reference, Government Docum Network Tours: .? Monday: 11:30 am Tuesday: 11:30 am Wednesday: 2:30 & 7:30 pi Thursdsay: 4:30 pm Network Tours will last approximately 30 minutes and will focus available in Thomas Cooper Lfcrary, including CO-ROM database: Tours will meet inside the front door of th< _J 'j M" - 'V ''Hgg' "' # < *S^^5* jglfa ' & $'" ; '', y;V\, -: ' .' ' . :. 0 ' .; . Michael Cornell and Jeff Wandersman perform i tort as an act ot Uod. Staring into Showers' deep blue eyes, they read the answers to their deepest desires, whether they be future husband, dream-lover or prophet-healer. "Showers" is now part of the rain divined by Buddy, and the women openly pray that Showers will heal Buddy of his affliction, while lusting in secret. Showers manages to gain Buddy's trust, and leads him to the river for washing. In a technically impressive ritual climax, Buddy stands in the water at the threshold of physical and psychological healing, when the tones of "Shall We Gather at the River" signify the arrival of the women to witness the "Baptism." Infuriated, Showers rises to convince the women he is not their miracle worker. As Showers' back is turned, Buddy is tugged under and drowns. Thus, religion kills the "prophet" This play is not the drama I expected ? it is a (pNetll w e E by Ju ies No, no, she Communications ... ii 803.733.2993 away Wltl ' registerin ;L?n?.. ] nowenter? _i Diary win$i,oo( Tours Bookstore. er 10 visits oui The include many departments ents, and Circulation. on electronic resources 5, USCAN, and the Internet. i Library ETC sm satire on small| town fundamennone so effective as ff fk > stunned as one - plunged in the ? frigid Zion river. A quite annoying contrast , ^ juxtapo^s complex WORKSHOP THEATER ^ In "The Diviners." * Darle?e- "J10 f portrayed by Karla Lucas. But the male characters are the most interesting and spring the most stunning performances, particularly that of Jeff Wandersman, a Richland Northeast High School Student, who captures the innocence and simplicity of Buddy. He is an excellent physical actor, effectively conveying a highly charged anxiety when shirking water. Thomas Tuckey is rugged, earthy Ferris Layman. His performance is natural, even raw when conveying inner tension over Buddy's upbringing. But Monty Blanton as Basil resuscitates this play from didactic depths. Delightful, engaging, endearing and shrewd describe this older gentleman's character. He all but steals the show - sidling off the stage on his red, authentic, '30s Schwinn. So don't miss Buddy and Basil. Besides, students get a discount. The play runs through Nov. 12. Call the box office, 799-6551. K 0 F N And mm Simonc Fresh didn't win the $1,000 grand pr i a new Gamecock T-Shirt and a ig for the No A's Required Schot d into the pot for the grand priz ) and books galore. And so couk Each week, we'll be giving awaj in-store sign up. You could be No fls Requi I , (No purpose 1/1 111 1^ Employees of Student Media and Univi 1- 1 Hi. It one entry per student. All contestants 1996 at USC-Columbia. Weekly f announced in Monday's paper. The fi will be verified for elegibilit 1400 Greene St. Columbia, SC I ...?T ue^8^' ? i thinn """5 USC student heads for stardom onstage Many USC students are active not only on campus but in the community. Workshop Theater's run of "The Diviners" includes a variety of people from USC in many areas of production. Meg Madden is one of those appearing in the spotlight as the play draws to a close this weekend. AMY SBARDELLA Staff Writer Meg is ready to broaden her Workshop Theaters "The Divin- character horizons. "I tend to play ers" boasts many USC connections, the sweet sister pretty-little-nice-girl including junior theater major Meg parts" she said. "I'm ready to play Madden. Madden, 19, portrays Jen- one of the crazy people." nie May Layman, sister of lead char- Other Diviners/USC connections: acter Buddy. Director Donna Wilson currently teachMadden has es theater in been acting ever USC's evening since she was a * division; prochild. You might 1 ducer InaHark have seen her in is a professor of ^.nanoofTTSr F.ncrlish and as l/iil jjuoi www i . -aacmr'r- ^^ 0? productions. She sociate dean of performed in "The the College of Learned Ladies" *"* Liberal Arts; last Spring at Jp :i. Anna Gardner, Longstreet Theater. ^ portraying LuelMadden said Zp? la, has served as the audience will J&clinical faculty likely sympathize HBH^B| adjunct in USCs with Buddy, whom HB^^V education deshe describes as "a H^^HV partment and sweet boy with ^HHB taught art approblems." She de- ^BlHf predation in the scribes the play as "Mii art department; a drama, punctu- _H Jamie c The amecoc technical diated by very hu- rector Walter morous moments. Her role as sister OTtoarke obtained his master's deis primarily to help and understand gree in the department of Theatre, Buddy. Speech and Dance, for which he also Although enjoying "The Diviners," designs sets. OVEMB ER 3 +1.~ Ill (' if 1Q j\. lu? I ! Odom iman ize. At least not yet. She did, however, walk Thermal Mue. courtesy of Jansnort, for <-J' V J. arship at the University Bookstore. She's e drawing on December 8 where she could 1 you, if you sign up now at the University 7 a prize package to a lucky individual who a big winner, too. So get smart. Sign up. I A I k I ireo bcnoiarsmp s necessary.) afffcllHHIffHI ersity Bookstore are not elegible. Limit I^U flll J must be enrolled in classes for Spring >rizes will be drawn on Fridays and | nal day to enter is Dec. 8. The winner y and notified shortly after. 29208-00112 Phone: 777-4160