‘Diviners’ story, people are haunting

Although "The Diviners" is about loss of faith, the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts' production makes it as much about relationships. That's because most of the actors seem to have a history between them. When a man tries to teach a mentally challenged boy to get over his fear of water, you can feel the tensions, hesitations, the love that infuse their dialogue.

Jim Leonard Jr.'s Depression-era drama offers us 14-year-old Buddy (Brendyn Bell), who's still recovering from the drowning death of his mother. Now, Buddy won't go near water, though he can miraculously predict rain. His wild eyes, untamed hair and sickly red skin give him a mad, Mowgli look.

An ex-preacher, C.C. Showers (Ryan Wesen), happens by looking for a job. The small-town ladies think Showers has been sent by the Lord to cure the boy, but Showers wants nothing further to do with religion. The ending is beautifully open-ended. Does the final tragedy restore Showers' faith, or does it re-enforce his belief that life is meaningless? I'd love to be in a room of people debating that issue.

As set designer, director Glenn Edwards does an expert job of creating the proper environment with a few platforms, earth-tone colors and a raked centerstage. The action towers atop the audience in a tiny theater, and this deepens the joy of being able to read the actors' faces.

Wesen makes for a caring former preacher, as tormented as he is kind. I loved watching how differently, how delicately Wesen interacts with each character. Bell as the troubled boy doesn't fall into the trap of chewing the scenery. His pain feels genuine. The first and second act finales -- aided by Haydee Cuevas' clever lighting -- deliver a blow to the tear ducts.

Dakota Rakes, as the boy's father, gets us to understand the man's confusion in knowing when to be tough and when to be gentle. Callie Williams (double-cast) gives the over-zealous Goldie -- a cafe owner who won't let customers eat unless they first say grace -- heavy doses of realism and amusing neurosis. We never mistake her for a cartoon character, which she easily could have become.

But though nearly all the actors are admirable individually, it's the creation of a remarkable ensemble that pumps this production into life. Days afterward, I found myself haunted by the story and its people.

Anthony Del Valle can be reached at DelValle@aol.com. You can write him c/o Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.