The Anselmian Abbey Players will perform their fall show, The Diviners, this weekend.  The three performances will be in the Dana Center Friday, November 18 at 7:30pm, Saturday, November 19 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday November 20 at 2pm.

The Diviners, written by Jim Leonard Jr., takes place in 1930s Indiana and involves a boy named Buddy, played by Flannery Moore ‘24, and C.C. Showers, a disenchanted pastor played by Jackson Hyam ’24.  Buddy is afraid of water after his mother drowned, and C.C. tries to help him overcome this fear.  The people of small town Zion, IN,  also try to get Showers to reestablish the town’s church.

“It is a lovely piece for actors, as the set is minimal and represents many different locations,” said Interim Director of the Abbey Players Elizabeth Daily, who directs the show.  

“Each character is very distinctive and provides a perspective of rural life of the times.  I enjoy working with actors and helping them develop viable characters.  This cast and design team has been really fun!  All have had wonderful and insightful input into this process.”

“It’s not a show you get a chance to see all the time.  No one I’ve talked to has heard of The Diviners,” said stage manager, set designer, and co-lighting designer Meg Query ’24. Query thinks that audiences will appreciate the show for that reason.

Julia Bard, Beck Gentile, Erin Golden, Hope Jensen, Kathryn Langille, Emma Link, Sydney Mazur, Julia Mehlin, and Jordan Tavares make up the rest of the show’s cast. Julia Bard, Olivia Boudreau, Bridget Donovan, Emma Link, Meg Query, Kayla Panagrosso, and Grace Trabucchi are the designers and the Abbey Players Board members.

“Even though the show has brought its challenges, the cast and crew has worked very hard to make this show the best it can be,” said Bridget Donovan ’25, sound designer and co-lighting designer

The Diviners should be a unique show for members of the college community to see. “Everyone should come see the play, as it is humorous and touching,” encourages Daily.  “It gives an interesting perspective on how religion can affect different people.” 

Tickets can be purchased on the Dana Center’s ticketing website, tickets.anselm.edu.  Tickets can also be purchased at the door, but the Dana Center would prefer most people purchase their tickets online.  Student tickets are $6, tickets for faculty, staff, alumni, and seniors over age 65 are $12, and all others tickets are $14.