It was then on Broadway in 1978 at theįavourite scene study vehicle in acting classes and workshops and has been produced hundreds of times in It took Off-Broadway by storm inġ970 at the Mercer Arts Center, winning every possible prize, including the Pulitzer, the Drama Critics Circle Award, an Obie, and Premiered in 1964 at the Alley Theatre in Houston. This is the timeless lesson of the play and the root And yet, as Tillie's experiment proves, somethingīeautiful and full of promise can emerge from even the most barren,Īfflicted soil. She is as much a victim of her own nature as of the cruel lot that

Her daughter's success, Beatrice can only maim when she needs to loveĪnd deride when she wants to praise. Proud and yet jealous, too filled with her own hurts to accept Her high school – and also brings on the shattering climax of the Undertakes a gamma ray experiment with marigolds that wins a prize at Younger daughter, Matilda, plain and almost pathologically shy, hasĪn intuitive gift for science. Pretty but highly strung girl subject to convulsions while the Frowzy, acid-tongued, supporting herself and her two daughtersīy taking in a decrepit old boarder, Beatrice Hunsdorfer wreaks a Revolves around the dysfunctional family consisting of single motherĪnd her two daughters who try to cope with their abysmal status in The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds The title refers to the girl's high school science experiment. She embodies the spirit of a survivor and follows her path to self discovery.

The storyline follows that of a dysfunctional family and the main character Tillie, who defies the work of her mother's manipulation. Of the most significant and affecting plays of our time. Vindictive widow and her two young daughters has been hailed as one Greatest successes, this powerful and moving study of an embittered, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds is aįull-length drama by Paul Zindel. About the Play: The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds has long been a favourite of acting teachers forįemale monologues and female/female scenes.

Paul zindel the effect of gamma rays