Classic drama examines mother-daughter relationship
Room for growth
By Joanne Fox Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, January 18, 2008
Emily Dorsett at right, Doreen Massey, seated and Diana Wooley, standing rehearse a scene from "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds," the next play at Lamb Productions. (Staff photo by Jerry Mennenga)
An award-winning production that examines the story of a bitter widow and her two young daughters is the next play at Lamb Productions.
One of off-Broadway's greatest successes, "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds" by Paul Zindel was the winner of the 1971 Pulitzer Prize, the Obie Award and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award as Best American Play of the Season.
Beatrice Hunsdorfer (Diana Wooley) wreaks a petty vengeance on everybody about her. One daughter, Ruth, (Alissa Walker) is a pretty but highly-strung girl; while the younger daughter, Matilda, (Emily Dorsett) is plain and almost pathologically shy, but has an intuitive gift for science. Supporting herself and her two young daughters, Beatrice takes in a boarder Nanny (Doreen Massey) to help with expenses.
Encouraged by a teacher, "Tillie" undertakes a gamma ray experiment with marigolds that wins a prize at her high school and kudos from classmates, including Janice Vickery (Julie Hagen). Unfortunately, the award also brings on the shattering climax of the play, said Russ Wooley, director of the show.
"Tillie's science fair project is a metaphor for the show, in that when she raises the marigolds, some mutate, some don't grow and some sprout double and triple blooms," he said.
"If you look at Beatrice as the source of radiation," he continued, "you can see how her actions are changing her daughters in the same way."
Although set in the mid-1960s, the material is pertinent to today, Wooley said.
"You hate to use the buzzword 'dysfunctional family,' but that's what's being examined in the play and explored very well," he said.
The play premiered in 1964, then moved to off-Broadway in 1970, winning numerous awards because of its approach to the subject matter, Wooley said.
"Theater is a reflection of mankind and great theater is not only a reflection, but an insight that creates thought for the audience as they walk out the door," he pointed out. "Gamma Rays is all that and more, especially in light of all the awards it has won."
At least two talk-backs with the actors and the audience will be held following the production, based on its story line. That has previously been done with the shows, "Whose Life is it Anyway," "Thrill Me," and "Recent Tragic Events," said Wooley.
"This show is incredibly thought-provoking and I can't imagine the audience leaving this show not being affected," he said. "Knowing that, we decided to give people the opportunity to think about the play and talk about it afterwards."
But it's not only the re-hashing of the tale that's important with great drama, Wooley noted. It's telling the story of the human condition.
"That's our job as artists: To reflect society in hopes of making it better," he said. "When it's done to the degree it's supposed to be, it's the best way we have to move people to change behavior."
The challenge is to get individuals motivated enough to come out to see a production without laughter, singing or dancing, Wooley said.
"People's time is valuable and I can understand if they're asking, 'Why should I leave the house and come out in the cold to see this show?'," he said. "I would answer, 'If you're looking for incredible entertainment that could better people's lives even today, then this is the show to see.'"
"The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds" opens tonight and runs through Feb. 10 at Lamb Productions, 417 Market St. Curtain is 7:30 p.m. with two Sunday matinees at 1:30 p.m. Talk-backs with the actors will be held after the show on the last two Friday performances.
Ticket prices are $22 for Friday/Saturday; adult Thursday/Sunday are $20 and senior citizens and students on Thursday/Sunday are $18. Tickets are available at the door or by calling the box office, Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. at 255-9536.
One of off-Broadway's greatest successes, "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds" by Paul Zindel was the winner of the 1971 Pulitzer Prize, the Obie Award and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award as Best American Play of the Season.
Beatrice Hunsdorfer (Diana Wooley) wreaks a petty vengeance on everybody about her. One daughter, Ruth, (Alissa Walker) is a pretty but highly-strung girl; while the younger daughter, Matilda, (Emily Dorsett) is plain and almost pathologically shy, but has an intuitive gift for science. Supporting herself and her two young daughters, Beatrice takes in a boarder Nanny (Doreen Massey) to help with expenses.
Encouraged by a teacher, "Tillie" undertakes a gamma ray experiment with marigolds that wins a prize at her high school and kudos from classmates, including Janice Vickery (Julie Hagen). Unfortunately, the award also brings on the shattering climax of the play, said Russ Wooley, director of the show.
"Tillie's science fair project is a metaphor for the show, in that when she raises the marigolds, some mutate, some don't grow and some sprout double and triple blooms," he said.
"If you look at Beatrice as the source of radiation," he continued, "you can see how her actions are changing her daughters in the same way."
Although set in the mid-1960s, the material is pertinent to today, Wooley said.
"You hate to use the buzzword 'dysfunctional family,' but that's what's being examined in the play and explored very well," he said.
The play premiered in 1964, then moved to off-Broadway in 1970, winning numerous awards because of its approach to the subject matter, Wooley said.
"Theater is a reflection of mankind and great theater is not only a reflection, but an insight that creates thought for the audience as they walk out the door," he pointed out. "Gamma Rays is all that and more, especially in light of all the awards it has won."
At least two talk-backs with the actors and the audience will be held following the production, based on its story line. That has previously been done with the shows, "Whose Life is it Anyway," "Thrill Me," and "Recent Tragic Events," said Wooley.
"This show is incredibly thought-provoking and I can't imagine the audience leaving this show not being affected," he said. "Knowing that, we decided to give people the opportunity to think about the play and talk about it afterwards."
But it's not only the re-hashing of the tale that's important with great drama, Wooley noted. It's telling the story of the human condition.
"That's our job as artists: To reflect society in hopes of making it better," he said. "When it's done to the degree it's supposed to be, it's the best way we have to move people to change behavior."
The challenge is to get individuals motivated enough to come out to see a production without laughter, singing or dancing, Wooley said.
"People's time is valuable and I can understand if they're asking, 'Why should I leave the house and come out in the cold to see this show?'," he said. "I would answer, 'If you're looking for incredible entertainment that could better people's lives even today, then this is the show to see.'"
"The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds" opens tonight and runs through Feb. 10 at Lamb Productions, 417 Market St. Curtain is 7:30 p.m. with two Sunday matinees at 1:30 p.m. Talk-backs with the actors will be held after the show on the last two Friday performances.
Ticket prices are $22 for Friday/Saturday; adult Thursday/Sunday are $20 and senior citizens and students on Thursday/Sunday are $18. Tickets are available at the door or by calling the box office, Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. at 255-9536.
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