The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 07, 1995, Page 4, Image 4
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
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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<
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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
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Communications ...
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Tours Bookstore.
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include many departments
ents, and Circulation.
on electronic resources
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satire on small|
town fundamennone
so effective as
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- plunged in the
? frigid Zion river.
A quite annoying
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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
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! Odom
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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