Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre opens its 51st season of community theater with Paul Zindel’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.” A story of perseverance and hope, it has been hailed as one of the most significant and affecting contemporary American plays.
It will be staged Sept. 20-22 and 27-28.
“Gamma Rays” tells the story of Beatrice, a bitter and domineering mother, and her two teenage daughters, the studious Tillie and the emotional Ruth.
Life with the abusive Beatrice resembles a hell more than a home, but shy Tillie may have found a light beyond her bleak home life. Encouraged by her teacher, she undertakes a gamma ray experiment with marigolds for the school science fair. The project — which provides the play’s title– — helps her to begin to bloom. As Tillie’s science experiment proves, something beautiful and full of promise can emerge from even the most barren, afflicted soil.
Dave Henderson directs they play and has assembled a stellar cast of local actors. Dee Gregg plays narcissistic, acid-tongued Beatrice. Carter Bauer plays the quiet and introverted Tillie. Grace Thompson has the role of Tillie’s older sister Ruth. Rachel Thompson plays Nana, an elderly boarder. Taylor Andrews plays Janice Vickery, Tillie’s rival at the science fair.
“The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds” is Paul Zindel’s best-known play. It is an autobiographical drama loosely based on his experiences growing up. The play’s main character, Beatrice, is modeled on Zindel’s mother.
The play opened off-Broadway in 1970, and in 1971 made a brief jump to Broadway. Overall, the play enjoyed a very successful New York run of 819 performances. Zindel’s portrayal of the painful side of family life struck a chord with audiences who found they could easily relate to the themes of loneliness and shattered dreams. The play was critically acclaimed and earned several awards, including an Obie Award for best play of the season (1970), the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best American play of the year (1970) and the Pulitzer Prize for drama (1971). It was so popular that, in 1972, Twentieth Century-Fox released a film version starring Joanne Woodward.
This is the first play in Towngate’s 51st season, which is sponsored by Unified Bank. Other upcoming main stage shows include: “The Littlest Angel,” Dec. 6-8, 13-14; “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” March 20-22, 27-28; and “The Book of Will,” May 8-10, 15-16.
Evening performances of “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds” take place at 8 p.m. Sept. 20-21 and 27-28. A matinee performance takes place at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept.22.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.oionline.com or by calling 304-242-7700. Tickets can also be purchased at the door, if available. Box office opens one hour prior to curtain.
