CPH

The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds
By Paul Zindel

Directed by Daniel Polk

- CERWINSKE STAGE PRODUCTION -

Fridays and Saturdays

MARCH 12 - 27, 2010 at 8pm

MATINEE: Sunday, MARCH 21 at 2pm

Thursday, MARCH 25 at 7:30pm

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Shy Matilda "Tillie" Hunsdorfer prepares her experiment, involving marigolds raised from radioactive seeds, for the science fair. She is, however, constantly thwarted by her mother Beatrice, who is self-centered and abusive, and by her extroverted and unstable sister Ruth, who submits to her mother's will. Over the course of the play, Beatrice constantly tries to stamp out any opportunities Tillie has of succeeding, due to her own lack of success in life.

Tillie is caught in the crossfire of transgenerational dysfunction as she fights to succeed despite her own radioactive environment at home.

Enduring the hardship around her, Tillie (who is much like her project's deformed but beautiful and hardy marigolds) secretly continues to believe that everyone is valuable.

Winner of the 1971 Pulitzer Prize in Drama, Paul Zindel's The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds is a lyrical drama, reminiscent of the work of Tennennesse Williams.