"The Diviners" is the story of a small Indiana town during the Great Depression. It is a study of the warm minutia that makes up the life of good people, and of the random desolation that can strike them. These themes are hung on the framework of a boy who will not wash, the people who love him, and the man who tries to help him.

Buddy is portrayed by young Casey Magis-Agosta with manic lovability; his body is in constant uncontainable motion throughout the play. Magis-Agosta's ability to use his body in this performance is key to the success of the play's climatic scene. It is a crucial scene that might have come off silly in the hands of a less talented cast, but achieves startling beauty and anguish in the hands of Pentacle Theatre.

A stand out performance should be credited to Michael Swanson, as the gentle ex-preacher C.C Showers, whose intention to leave his vocation behind is incompatible with the intentions of the town to make him find it again. Swanson brings life to the conflicted C.C. with line delivery that's soft as linen and a quiet humor that embodies the warm nature of "The Diviners."

Also notable is Jay Howe as the sinewy father of Buddy, Ferris Layman. His portrayal is authentically rough and kindhearted; he bares the ability to turn the exclamation, "You're full of shit!" into an affectionate clap on the back.  

Pentacle continues its tradition of captivating stage design in the impressionistic set of "The Diviners." Rough wooden tiers layering an ascending path represent all the places a character could travel in a town. It's the garage, the diner, the farm and the woods. But most importantly, the set is a deep river, fast flowing and lined with jagged rocks.

The journey through "The Diviners" is such a pleasant one, like the flow of a large quiet river. A viewer is happy to meander along with it, enjoying the peace and beauty it offers. But don't allow yourself to become too secure. The river is deep, and the currents can become deadly without notice.