Everyone can recall a time when they needed their faith renewed. Some people give up on themselves while others search to make themselves better or to find a little hope at the end of the tunnel.
In the upcoming April play “The Diviners” the characters are searching for their lights at the end of the tunnel.
“People want to start over again sometimes, try something different with their lives,” said sophomore Caden Crawford.
Crawford plays C.C. Showers, a preacher who got to the point where he never really wanted to preach. He begins to live up to everyone’s expectations and finally when he can’t take it anymore he leaves and heads out to find faith in something again.
“I feel like I can really play this role. [I understand] the way he feels about things, his personality. When I read this script, I envisioned myself as C.C.,” said Crawford. “Everyone always has something they run away from.”
Although C.C. Showers is running from something in his past, he befriends someone that the play centers around.
Sophomore Corey Finzel plays Buddy Layman, also known as “Idiot Boy.” His character is said to bring a little hope to the play.
“My character Buddy Layman, the idiot boy as they call him in the script, brings hope to the show,” said Finzel. “Even though he is dealing with his own personal guilt he still brings hope to all the characters.”
Buddy Layman is known as the Diviner.
“A diviner is someone who can find water and other minerals in the ground with just a willow rod or dosing rods,” said Finzel.
While some have the gift of finding water in the play, the performers all share the same common goal.
“Everyone in the play is longing for something. Something they really long for or diving for,” said Crawford.
Rebecca Faulds, a theater director of 15 years at Tyler Junior College, is working hard to bring this play to life, and make it more believable and relatable to the audience.
“This is my first time working with her. She pushes hard and asks lots of questions,” said Crawford. “I started learning about my character and learned a lot more about the play.”
Faulds dedicated a whole rehearsal to research. She made all the performers in the play do research on the times and settings to get a better feel of their roles.
“They had to do research on the time period, what was happening in the country politically and socially. The play took place during the Great Depression era,” said Faulds. “I made them get on the internet and look up maps so we could visually draw out the setting for the play. We had a lot of fun”
Even though playing these roles may seem easy to some, characters are challenging themselves in more than one way.
“I have been trying to get in touch with my inner child and really think of how I acted when I was 14,” said Finzel. “For example, Becky tells me to fall to the ground like a kid would and I tried it but still looked like a goofy college kid falling to the ground. So it has been a challenge all on its own.”
Whether the play has been challenging for some, the concept for “The Diviners” is up for the audience’s interpretation.
“I want them to walk away having to feel all the emotions and struggles these people feel; why the characters made the decisions they made,” said Faulds. “What you may think your doing is right and what may make sense to you doesn’t mean it’s right. Everyone will walk away with something different.”
“The Diviners” begins at 7:30 p.m. April 27 and ends May 1 with a matinee performance 2p.m. Sunday in Jean Browne Theatre. The box office opens a week before the play begins. TJC students get in free with their student ID and for non-TJC students, tickets will be $5. Faculty and staff are able to get two free tickets.
