THE EFFECT OF GAMMA RAYS ON MAN-IN-THE-MOON MARIGOLDS (Comedy/Drama)

 by Paul Zindel, which won the 1971 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Auditions: Dec 4-5
Performances: Feb. 15-17, 22-24, Mar. 1-3.

Production Staff Director................. Al Lien Ass't. Director..................... Edmund F. Seeber Mentor............................. Margaret Schaal Producer................................. Wendy Kalush Stage Manager................................ Mike Carney Ass't. Stage Manager................................. Ann Levine Set Construction.................................. Jeff Kroeger                                                  Al Lein Set Decoration................. Kelly Curtis & Wendy Roberts

Properties................................................ Brenda Powers
Ass't. Properties.......................................... Ann Levine
Costumes.................... Nancy Albrecht, Donna Hood,
Dale George & Julie Kelly
Lighting........................................................ Ryan McKenna
Ass't. Lighting.................................. Denny Everett
Sound................................................. Casey Wolf
Ass't. Sound......................................... T.J. Berden
Poster Design..................................Bonnie Kolarik
Music Consultant......................... Jean Greene, CMT
BAD Liaison......................................... Sarah Hampton

Review, 2-17-2001, Don Kuehlhorn

"The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the Moon Marigolds" is a play not to be missed. The story of a dysfunctional family headed by a mother that takes in the elderly to make ends meet and how one child finds a way to rise above the insanity and, we feel, survive.

Margaret Slawson plays the elderly Nanny. Though a non-speaking role, I kept going back to her stage presence just to see if she would relax and stop shaking or move too quickly. In point, her convincing portrayal had me enthralled.

Elissa Preseau appears in the second act as the contestant to beat at the Science fair. When you hear her describe the techniques she used to make her cat skeleton, then laugh about it, you think about the science fair you were in and lost to this smarty!

Karen Hopper plays the older sister who makes up stories to fit her needs. Karen's character is mean and nasty and loving and sisterly. Her mood swings made her all the more real. She had me believing from the beginning and never let down.

Rachel Levine plays the survivor. In a family headed by a  slightly deranged woman, you know that something from the outside has to intervene to save the children. In this case, it is a science fair. Rachel plays her character with style and class. At the end you know she will survive.

Last, but in no way least, Denni Don Hunting. She plays the mother we all have seen in some one else's family. This lady keeps her daughter home from school for odd reasons and blames the child for telling the principal about her. She threatens to put the family rabbit down as the stick to make her children behave.  She wants to turn her store front/cold water flat into a tea room which will bring her the happiness she deserves. Denni plays the character with a touch only seasoned actors can bring. She makes this character sympathetic without getting sentimental. She is funny and tragic at the same time. A tightrope of a character well walked.

The direction and technical aspects of this play only enhance the performances. Al Lien and his crew have a right to be proud of their work. This is a must see. You will talk about it for days.