MONMOUTH — Monmouth Community Players will take audiences back to the Depression era with “The Diviners,” a play revolving around the friendship of an “idiot” boy who divines water and a backsliding preacher turned wanderer.

MPC will stage the heartwarming allegorical tale of faith, hope and longing on Oct. 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 at Cumston Hall.

Principal roles of the boy, Buddy Layman, and preacher, C.C. Showers, are played by Cameron Gelder and Duane Glover, respectively. Colleen Mahan is director.

The day Showers strolls into Zion, a mythical Southern Indiana town with a population of 40, most everyone takes notice. He has lost his faith and is determined never to preach again.

Jennie Mae (Emily Trefethen), Buddy’s sister and caretaker, and Ferris (Bruce Gerry), their father, offer him a place to stay and a job to pay for it. Basil (Roger Philippon), a successful farmer and amateur “doctor” sees him as help for the boy, while Luella (Anita Charles), his wife, is skeptical of his power.

Local storekeeper, Norma (Penny Appleby), sees Showers as a savior for both the boy and the town, which hasn’t had a church for 10 years, as her niece, Darlene (Emma Davis), moons over how good looking he is.

Goldie (Buffy Dumont) at the Dine-Away-Cafe longs for a church back in town to help business. Dewey (Duncan Gelder) and Melvin (Brandon Clark), Basil’s farmhands, just try to do their work and keep out of trouble while courting Darlene on the side.

Although “The Diviners,” by Jim Leonard Jr., is a drama, the story is told with considerable humor — and a bit of a mild swearing.

Friday and Saturday shows will start at 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Call the box office at 933-2229. Tickets are $12, $10 for students/seniors. Cumston Hall is at 796 Main St.