Good evening,
Welcome to the first show of our 2022-2023 season! I am so grateful for your support of Red Raider Theatre.
“The Diviners” is a bittersweet story. It reminds us that people are far more interesting, beautiful, and fragile when you look beyond their job titles, disabilities, appearances, age and associations.
I watch the play unfold and see all these characters, everyone one of them generous and well-meaning people, fight to find the balance between faith, community, freedom, responsibility, a larger purpose, and love. The tragedy arises from each person’s fear that someone else will define them.
I like Basil’s outlook. He finds solace in the feel of the earth and the look of the morning sun. He knows that no matter what our individual beliefs may be, we are always best when we form a community and support each other. He says, “we turn to each other, and we call it a blessin’.” My community has always been in the theatre, where diverse people can work together, sometimes agreeing on very little except that good art is a larger purpose and doing it together makes us better.
It is our wish that you will be as moved by the struggle of each character to divine a better life for themselves as we are. Many of us as human beings are searching for something more meaningful in our lives. “The Diviners” teaches us that kindness, friendship and forgiveness can save even the most tortured soul and set it free.
Enjoy the show!
Brian Jones
Director of Red Raider Theatre
