Happy Medium Closes THE EFFECT OF GAMMA RAYS ... 1/15

Happy Medium Theatre, Inc. (HMT) is proud to kick off its second season with, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, directed by Lizette Marie Morris. The production runs January 6th -15th at the Factory Theatre, 791 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02118.

The old, converted vegetable shop where Tillie lives is more like a madhouse than a home. Tillie's mother, Beatrice, is bitter and cruel, yet desperate for her daughters' love. Her sister, Ruth, suffers epileptic fits and sneaks cigarettes every chance she gets. In
the midst of chaos, Tillie struggles to keep her focus and dreams alive. Tillie--keeper of rabbits, dreamer of atoms, true believer in life, hope, and the effect of gamma rays
on man-in-the-moon marigolds.

ABOUT THE SHOW:

The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds is a 1964 play written by Paul Zindel, a playwright and science teacher. Zindel received the 1971 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for the work. The play's world premiere was staged in 1964 at the Alley Theatre in Houston, after which it premiered in New York City Off Broadway. It was adapted for the screen in 1972, directed by Paul Newman and starring his wife JoAnne Woodward, daughter Nell Potts, and Roberta Wallach, daughter of Eli Wallach. Woodward won the award for Best Actress at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival.

The play revolves around the dysfunctional family consisting of single mother Beatrice and her two daughters, Ruth and Tillie, who try to cope with their abysmal status in life. The play is a lyrical drama, reminiscent of Tennessee Williams' style.

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. As the play progresses, the paths of the three characters diverge: Tillie wins the science fair through perseverance; Ruth attempts to stand up to her mother but has a nervous collapse at the end of the play, and Beatrice-driven to the edge of sanity by her deep-seated enmity towards everyone-kills Tillie's pet rabbit Peter and ends up wallowing in her own perceived insignificance. Despite this, Tillie (who is much like her project's deformed but beautiful and hardy marigolds) secretly continues to believe that everyone is valuable.

A Happy Medium History

The Happy Medium Theatre Company, Inc. (affectionately known as HMT) is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) arts organization. Founded in May 2008 by Barbara DiGirolamo (Community Relations/Treasurer), Mikey DiLoreto (Executive Producer), Stacy Fox (General Manager/Webmaster), Lesley Anne Moreau (Artistic Director), and Audrey Lynn Sylvia (Executive Director), HMT is fiercely dedicated to bridging the imminent gap between professionalism and fun in the Boston Theatre Scene. HMT intends to do this by collaborating closely with, and proudly supporting all, the ideas of our actors, directors, playwrights, patrons, and designers. Happy Medium Theatre is a proud member of Stage Source and the Small Theatre Alliance of Boston.

The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds opens Happy Medium Theatre's second full-length season, following an extremely successful inaugural year. Happy Medium's Family (de)Values show was lauded by Kilian Melloy of Edge Boston as "superb" and "uniformly excellent." Our production of Douglas Carter Beane's Music From a Sparkling Planet was praised by Kay Bourne of Edge Boston as "subtle," "realistic" and "wonderful;" and Jenna Scherer of The Boston Herald said it was "remarkable for its economy," had "quick comic timing," and was putting Happy Medium in "a promising direction."

Happy Medium's inaugural production of Neil Simon's The Gingerbread Lady was also met with accolades. Killian Melloy of Edge Boston hailed the production as "a [Factory Theatre] standout;" Jules Becker of The Jewish Advocate said it was "highly flavorable," had "sharp pacing," and was "quite good;" and Larry Stark proclaimed that "Happy Medium was a gutsy new company!"

 

FACT SHEET

WHAT:

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

by Paul Zindel

Director: Lizette Marie Morris

Assistant Director: Kristina Wilburn

Production Stage Manager: Stacy Fox

CAST:

Tillie: Caitlyn Conley

Beatrice: Cassandra Meyer

Ruth: Kathryn Lynch

Nanny/Janice Vickery: Christina Malanga

WHEN:

Th. January 6 (8 p.m.)

Fri. January 7 (8 p.m.)

Sat. January 8 (4 p.m.)

Sat. January 8 (8 p.m.)

Sun. January 9 (4 p.m.)

Th. January 13 (8 p.m.)

Fri. January 14 (8 p.m.)

Sat. January 15 (4 p.m.)

Sat. January 15 (8 p.m.)
TICKET INFORMATION:

Adults- $16 in advance, $20 at door.
Students/Seniors- $14 in advance, $17 at door http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/139994 http://www.happymediumtheatre.com.

 

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