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

This is such a sad play about what must be one of the most dysfunctional families about. Beatrice, the mother, is a deserted woman, and abusively controls her two teenage daughters. Tillie, our heroine, is a budding scientist, who receives only ridicule and obstruction from her mother. Her older sister, Ruth, is beginning to be manipulating and obsessive like her mother.

Sarah Russell was quite compelling as the mother and her erratic behaviour was convincing. Claire Jakeman successfully portrayed Tillie and her interest in science, in spite of her mother’s lack of interest and support, and Charlotte Gatherer was an excellent Ruth, vacillating between caring for her sister and supporting her mother.

In between the angst there were some lovely comic moments. Jessica Rugman’s presentation of her science project was a hoot, and Sylvia Jobling, as the aged Nanny, was delightfully odd. Poochy, as Peter the rabbit, was gorgeous and the audience was very sad when he died (fortunately off stage).

The author, Paul Zindel, based Beatrice on his own mother, a disturbed woman, who felt that her children were like a stone around her neck. This was not an easy play to watch, but Tim Robbins, the director, made it interesting and not too harrowing.

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