Gamma Rays at Theatre Guild starting April 18

Compelling and harsh, yet poetic and gentle -- these seemingly contradictory phrases accurately describe Paul Zindel’s critically-acclaimed, autobiographical play being presented by the Racine Theatre Guild. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and multiple awards, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds runs two weekends at the Guild, 2519 Northwestern Ave.

In this realistic and moving portrayal of the struggles of a single-parent household, optimism and hope are kept alive and personified by Tillie (Kelsey Hoff), the younger daughter of a bitter and vindictive mother. Left by her husband years ago, Beatrice (Mona Lewis) has become deeply distrustful of men and increasingly reclusive.

She earns a meager income by taking in a string of decrepit old boarders, Nanny (Donna Peterson) being the current resident. Beatrice lashes out at those around her, primarily her two teenaged daughters. Older daughter Ruth (Kathryn Perry) is a temperamental and fickle girl subject to seizures. Tillie is an introverted and thoughtful dreamer who excels in school, particularly science.

Encouraged by her teacher, Tillie undertakes a gamma ray experiment with marigolds, and enters her project in the school science fair. Just as Tillie’s experiment proves that something beautiful can emerge and bloom in even the most barren soil, so does Tillie herself triumph. She takes first prize, defeating her main competition, Janice Vickery (Erin Zimmerman), whose project involving a cat skeleton brings comic relief. In the end, Tillie rises above her environment, full of promise.

Author Paul Zindel, who based the character of Beatrice on his mother, had been a science teacher before becoming a playwright (And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little) and writer of novels for young people (The Pigman).

The play met with great success when it was presented Off Broadway in 1970, with Sada Thompson in the role of Beatrice. That production won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award and the Obie Award, then became only the second Off-Broadway production to receive the Pulitzer Prize. In 1972 a film version was produced and directed by Paul Newman, with Joanne Woodward starring as Beatrice and their daughter Nell as Tillie.

Directing the production is Norm McPhee, who headed the RTG for 32 years before retiring from full-time duties in 2001. He first directed Gamma Rays for the Racine Theatre Guild at its playhouse on High Street in 1974. The SC Johnson Company is the sponsor and underwriter of workshops and performances for schools. Skelly Warren designed the set. Russ Stetler serves as production stage manager.

Weekend performances of The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds take place April 18-20 and 25-27. Show times are 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; 1:30 on Sundays with an additional 7 p.m. performance on April 20.

Tickets cost $16 for the 8 p.m. shows and $14 for all others. Discounts are available for seniors, season subscribers, groups and students; however, the play is not recommended for young (elementary-school age) children.

Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and one hour prior to each curtain time. On performance Saturdays, the box office opens at 2 p.m. For reservations, call 262-633-4218. To learn more about the many entertainment and enrichment opportunities offered by the Racine Theatre Guild, a nonprofit community theatre, visit www.racinetheatre.org.