<?php // \controllers\UserController.php
...
    private function viewAction($var = null) {
        $var = $var? $var: 'user';
        $this->render($var);
    }

    public function usersAction() {
        $list = array('Bob', 'Steve', 'Mike', 'Sally', 'Frank');
        $this->view->userlist = $list; //array('Bob', 'Steve', 'Mike', 'Sally', 'Frank');
        $this->viewAction();
    }
... ?>

// \views\scripts\user\user.phtml
...
<h1>User List</h1>
    <?php
        /*$list = array('Bob', 'Steve', 'Mike', 'Sally', 'Frank');
        echo $this->htmlList($list);*/  // this works
        var_dump($this->userlist);  // this does NOT work
        //echo $this->htmlList($this->userlist);
    ?>