by Paula Kaplan-Reiss
“Atom…what a beautiful word.” The play opens with a sensitive adolescent, Tillie Hunsdorfer (Olivia Stickles) rhapsodizing about her love of science and all the magic and mystery it encompasses. Immersed in science and experiments, and caring for her pet rabbit, Peter, she escapes from her miserable, angry, abusive mother, Beatrice (Deb Mead) and her epileptic, unhinged older sister, Ruth (Rosalynn Annely).
In The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-the-Moon Marigolds the Bunbury Players invite the audience into the Albany Barn theater where beneath the stage is the Hunsdorfer home. The stage above holds the girls’ school auditorium. Chairs are set in the half-round, allowing us to be amidst the drama. Director Maureen Baillargeon Aumand and Scenic Designer Steve Suriano ensure we see and feel every emotion in Paul Zindel’s searing, powerful play.
Mead, an experienced actress, embodies Beatrice with frustration, resentment, rage and hopelessness, as a single mother, abandoned by her husband forced to take care of her disabled daughter, and take in and care for elderly boarders. She prevents Tillie from going to school to stay home and clean. She mourns the early loss of her father as she regales Ruth with stories of helping him sell vegetables, a favorite memory of earlier days. Bitterly, she states, “Everything I thought I’d be exploded.” When Tillie explains to her the meaning of half-life in scientific terms, Beatrice bemoans her own half-life, with one daughter with half a mind, another who is half a test-tube, and a marriage with half a husband. We feel her pain and loss. At the same time, we see her sacrifice her gifted daughter’s education as she makes fun of her appearance.
Vulnerability is center stage with all three characters. Annely, as Ruth, can mock her younger sister, suffer from nightmares, acknowledge her fear, and be desperate for closeness with her mother, who, surprisingly, seems adept at managing her anxiety and her seizures. We see her proud of Tillie’s achievements at the science fair, yet painfully aware of her mother’s embarrassment of her. Ultimately, we see her out of control vengeance toward her mother.
Rosalyn Annely (front) and Deb Mead (back) in “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds” by Paul Zindel, directed by Maureen Baillargeon Aumand, presented by The Bunbury Players at The Albany Barn. Photo: Jason Cromie. 
Deb Mead in “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds” by Paul Zindel, directed by Maureen Baillargeon Aumand, presented by The Bunbury Players at The Albany Barn. Photo: Jason Cromie. 
Debra Bercier (front) and Deb Mead (back) in “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds” by Paul Zindel, directed by Maureen Baillargeon Aumand, presented by The Bunbury Players at The Albany Barn. Photo: Jason Cromie. 
Deb Mead in “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds” by Paul Zindel, directed by Maureen Baillargeon Aumand, presented by The Bunbury Players at The Albany Barn. Photo: Jason Cromie. 
Rosalyn Annely (left) and Deb Mead (right) in “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds” by Paul Zindel, directed by Maureen Baillargeon Aumand, presented by The Bunbury Players at The Albany Barn. Photo: Jason Cromie. 
Olivia Stickles (left) and Deb Mead (right) in “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds” by Paul Zindel, directed by Maureen Baillargeon Aumand, presented by The Bunbury Players at The Albany Barn. Photo: Jason Cromie. 
Olivia Stickles, Rosalyn Annely and Deb Mead in “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds” by Paul Zindel, directed by Maureen Baillargeon Aumand, presented by The Bunbury Players at The Albany Barn. Photo: Jason Cromie. 
Set designed by Steve Suriano for “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds” by Paul Zindel, directed by Maureen Baillargeon Aumand, presented by The Bunbury Players at The Albany Barn. Photo: Jason Cromie. 
Stickles, as Tillie, conveys all her emotions on her luminescent face. Dedicated to science, she begs to go to school, yet stays home to do chores for her mother. She is quiet and thoughtful and lovingly cares for her pet rabbit, while being kind to the elderly, non-verbal, apparent stroke victim tenant, Nanny (Debra Bercier). She conveys a Cinderella vibe, while cleaning under the control of her ‘evil’ mother and sister. Stickles, a middle schooler, gives a mature performance. While being described as having ‘spaghetti hair,” she has a beautiful face with golden tresses. She is dressed with little style, but it is difficult to imagine the ridicule and isolation she experiences in school given what a magnificent presence she has on stage.
As the play unfolds, Tillie is working with the effects of radiation on marigolds she plants at home. Radiation, energy that is known to have disastrous effects on health, is a fitting theme for this home where everyone is suffering. Because Tillie is a finalist in the school science fair, Beatrice is asked to come to the fair by the school principal, setting her into a tailspin. What will she wear? How will she leave her home? How will she be perceived at her old high school? Ruth tells Tillie she heard their mother referred to as ‘Betty, the Loon’ as a teen. Ruth forces Tillie to give her the rabbit in exchange for not telling their mother about her reputation. We know this will not end well.
The Science Fair introduces us to Janice Vickery (Caleigh Hogan), an enthusiastic student presenting her experiment of boiling the skin off a cat, apparent roadkill. This disturbing, yet amusing presentation offsets the climax of Tillie’s experiment.
Bercier, as Nanny, while non-verbal and not on stage often, embodies the Zombie role Beatrice conveys on her, as she shuffles with a walker to eat at the table. Yet, being up close, we can see so much in her eyes as she seems to understand all that goes on. Even when wishing all manner of horrible calamities on her, we see Beatrice’s gentleness as she handles her.
The musical interludes by Sound Designer, Andrew Deitch, recognized as several Joni Mitchell songs and some celestial music, are used very effectively to cultivate the play’s mood.
Lighting Design by Andrew Whipple avoids ever making the set completely dark as we can see set changes and character entrances and exits. This takes getting used to as we are close to the performers. A thunder storm requiring flashes of lightning and use of a flashlight works well.
Costume Designer, William H. Howard III, ensures no characters are dressed in a flattering way. Beatrice, in particular, clad mostly in housedresses, slips and robes, makes an embarrassing attempt to dress for the Science Fair. The family needs a makeover, and that is likely the point.
Ultimately, we feel most hope for Tillie who recognizes that ‘the universe is filled with great atoms…every atom is from the sun.’ Aumand beautifully directs a play for which she feels great passion, which is evident in this shining performance.
Bunbury Players, in its effort to make theater available to everyone, provides free performances, with a request for donations to continue productions. Go and see the effect Zindel’s play has on you.
The Bunbury Players present The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-the-Moon Marigolds by Paul Zindel, directed by Maureen Baillargeon Aumand, at The Albany Barn (56 Second Street in Albany, NY) from April 25-May 4. $20 suggested donation at the door; general seating. CAST: Olivia Stickles as Tillie Hunsdorfer, Deb Mead as Beatrice, Rosalynn Annely as Ruth, Debra Bercier as Nanny, and Caleigh Hogan as Janice Vickery. Scenic Designer Steve Suriano, Sound Designer Andrew Deitch, Lighting Designer Andrew Whipple, Costume Designer William H. Howard III, Stage Manager/Properties Designer Debra Bercier, Hair & Makeup Designer Marcia Marra, Producer Hassan Harris Wilcher.