ACT offers a tale of dysfunctional family and ultimately their strange redemption

By Heather Crabtree

The Entertainer

ALBANY - Albany Civic Theater will open "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds," by Paul Zindel, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 13.

Additional shows will be at 7:30 p.m. May 14, 19 and 20 and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday May 15 and 21.

The play depicts the life of a dysfunctional family. Beatrice Hunsdorfer is a bitter woman who makes her life and her two daughters' lives miserable. Beatrice has dreams but is too consumed with uncertainty to actually pursue them.

Her youngest daughter, "Tillie," is intelligent but shy. She is one of five finalists in a school science fair. Her project is raising marigolds from seed, some of which have been exposed to cobalt 60.

Her other daughter, Ruth, is attention-starved and epileptic. Because of her slightly unhinged nature, Ruth has a flair for causing more friction among the family members.

"There is a lot of symbolism in the play that deals with (abuse)," said Nancy Fairchild, the play's director. "It's a very bittersweet kind of play because there are a lot of things in the play that are downers, but there is also a lot of things that you can see coming out of this."

Tillie is going to be stronger because her teacher took an interest in her."

Cast members are Pauli Long as Beatrice Hunsdorfer, Paris Hoover as Matilda "Tillie" Hunsdorfer, Teresa Elias as Ruth Hunsdorfer, Mary Jane Fountain as Nancy, and Caren Ventura as Janice Vickery.

If you go

WHAT: "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds."

WHERE: Albany Civic Theater, 111 First Ave. S.W., Albany.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 13, 14, 19 and 20, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 15 and 21.

COST: $9, general admission; $6, seniors and students 18 and under. Tickets are available at Sid Stevens Jewelers and Rice's Pharmacy.