“We should recognize the good times while we have them because they are lost so easily, and once they are lost they are lost forever.” This is what Director Patricia Ridge wants the audience to realize when they come to see NIU’s production of “Diviners.”

“Diviners,” which took best original play distinction at the American College Theatre Festival, will be performed March 29-April 1, and April 3-8 at 8 p.m. in the Players Theatre, located in the Stevens Building.

Ridge urges theater-goers to purchase their tickets early due to the theater’s limited seating. General admission is $5; NIU faculty, staff, senior citizens and other students are charged $4.50, and NIU students $4.

Set in a small Indiana town, the award-winning play takes place during the depression in the 1930’s. It focuses around the relationship of a troubled young boy and a preacher who considers leaving his profession. They must take time to get to know and trust each other and the play deals with this.

In the story, the boy is blessed with a special gift, but is too afraid to use it. He is a diviner. This means he has the ability to take a stick and search out water. Yet the boy fears water because his mother drowned when he was three.

Ridge said it is the job of the preacher to help the boy to overcome his fear and wash himself. For this, their relationship had to build. Ridge would not, however, reveal the powerful “emotional” ending to this dilemma.

If Ridge has her way, the audience will truly enjoy the intimacy of the play. She said she wants the audience to laugh and cry with the characters. The Players Theatre will be set in the round to help contribute to this closeness.

Ridge likes the Players Theatre for another reason. It is easily transformed. At one moment it is the setting for the town and the next it might be a converted into a river. This is not always easy to do with a larger stage.

The play, which was designed to provoke emotions, can still appeal to today’s audiences, Ridge said. Even though the main characters will be performing in overalls and other such dress of the the rural 1930s, the audience should still be able to relate and appreciate the play’s themes.

“Diviners” was written by James Leonard and includes a cast of 11. Other characters include the boy’s father and sister along with some townspeople. Daily box office hours are from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. and one hour before each performance.