Deep Waters
The Diviners at Theatre Works
***1/2 (out of *****)
Mark S.P. Turvin
(w) 965-1021  (h) 894-5443
I can be reached for comment via e-mail at: mspt@asu.edu

	Over fifteen years ago, a teenaged Jim Leonard wrote The 
Diviners. This symbolically sodden play propelled the young 
playwright into the limelight, resulting in a production at Circle 
Rep, and a cast headed by William Hurt. Jim Leonard has moved on 
since this spectacular early start, recently spending some time as 
the playwright-in-residence at ASU before going on to his current 
editorial job in L.A. 
	While he has expanded his list of works, this play still 
stands out for it's intelligence, warmth and sense of place. It's 
overt symbolism, which often threatens to overwhelm the play, in 
the end balances off this touching and intense story centered on 
the friendship between a simple boy and a former preacher during 
the early '30s. 
	The title, nonsymbolically, refers to the young Buddy Layman, 
a fourteen year old whose near-drowning as a child has left him 
simple and barely connected to the world around him. Despite his 
intense fear of the water that nearly killed him and took his 
mother, he is a diviner, someone who uses a divining rod to locate 
water for wells. Into his life and the lives of his older sister 
and father comes a wanderer, way-too-symbolically named C.C. 
Showers. C.C. is a former preacher who has left his profession and 
Kentucky hometown to find his own brand of divine inspiration. 
Despite his protestations, the Indiana townspeople take this 
garage-helper and try to force him back into the role of a 
preacher. 
	Theatre Works' production, directed by Robyn Allen, does 
justice to this somewhat uneven script. Just as the action of the 
play is more interesting when dealing with Buddy and C.C.'s 
relationship and that of the immediate family, and less so when 
dealing with the periphery townspeople, so is the production at 
its best when C.C. is bonding with Buddy, very good when C.C. is 
flirting with Buddy's older sister Jennie May and talking man to 
man with Buddy's father, Ferris, and only pretty good when the 
others are onstage. 
	The best part of the cast undoubtedly is Philip Dawkins, who 
plays the simple Buddy Layman with conviction and without remorse. 
This is not a portrayal of a mentally retarded child, but a 
presentation of a youngster whose life and world we can only 
capture glimpses into. Mr. Dawkins acting range is very 
impressive, and not a bit stagy or pretentious, as this part might 
lead to. His acting abilities are best noticed when he's not the 
center of attention, since he never breaks character, and yet is 
never intrusive or scene stealing. Matthew Mazuroski, who plays 
C.C. Showers, does an excellent job with his role of disenchanted 
wanderer. When he is working with Mr. Dawkins, the two rattle off 
their dialogue comfortably, enjoyably and believably. 
	Dan'l Sweeney's portrayal of the widowed father is quite 
enjoyable, though when he was in scenes dealing with others 
outside of his immediate family, the scenes began to drag. Mary E. 
McGary, as Jennie Mae, Buddy's eighteen year old sister and C.C.'s 
flirtatious love interest, also does a very good job portraying 
the longing girl, forced to be mother and daughter. 
	There's nothing technically wrong with the rest of the cast. 
There are some solid performances, but they are undercut by the 
fact that they are really nothing more than window dressing and 
expositional material to support a theme. One actor who manages to 
overcome his utilitarian role is Wes Martin, who plays the likable 
farmer Basil. 
	Robyn Allen's direction is great for the central plot, and 
merely solid with the extra material beyond it. The climax of the 
show is a difficult one to portray, and Robyn's choices for this 
exciting and disturbing moment are definitely to be applauded.
	The simple set and light design by Matthew Mazuroski and 
Gregory Jaye are workable, all leading to the climactic scene, 
where they finally establish their intention.
	Considering the work of Philip Dawkins and Matthew Mazuroski 
alone, this play delivers a solid evening of theatre. When the 
impressive and exciting climax is added, balanced by the somewhat 
mundane expositional and symbol-oriented scenes that pepper the 
play, then the audience still comes out ahead on the deal. 
Production Details:

The Diviners by James Leonard, Jr.
Theatre Works, Phoenix
486-8636
August 25th-September 3rd
$10-$12

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