Show and Tell number 1

The Effect Of Gamma Rays On Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds

     Basic Information About the Play: I chose to talk about The Effect Of Gamma Rays on Man-In-the-Moon Marigolds. I figure it will be easy to talk about it in detail and if anyone reads my post, it may be interesting to then go see the show this week.  The show was written by Paul Zindel more than thirty six years ago. It was first Produced in Houston, Texas at the Alley Theatre in 1964. It went on to be performed on Broadway in 1971. It had a very successful run of 819 performances in New York.. It then won several awards. It won an Obie Award, The New York Drama Critics Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize. It ended up being so popular that a film version was created.

    Basic Plot: The show is set in the fifties right after sputnik. Tillie, the intelligent and hopeful twelve year old endures abuse from her drunken mother and psychotic sister. The play is centered around two major and contrasting themes. The first being the death of dreams and the other being hope. Tillie decides to join the science fair in order to channel her intelligence. She is inspired by her favorite teacher Mr. Goodman. Her project has to do with radioactivity, atoms, and of course , marigolds. It could be argued the flowers are representations of the three main characters. The decrepit, poisoned flowers being Beatrice (the mother), the “normal” flowers portraying Ruth (the sister) and the mutated, outstanding flowers representing Tillie.

    Two Dramaturgical Choices:

        - The first dramaturgical choice I chose to address was the use of multiple spot lit monologues performed by Tillie. Paul Zindel decided to add these extremely personal and insightful speeches delivered by Tillie out to the audience.  They seem to have been written to establish a connection with the audience. It lets them into the beautiful mind of the strong and hopeful twelve year old. She also introduces and closes the show. Therefore the show is mostly told/ about her perspective. These speeches help establish her as the protagonist. They are what keeps the audience rooting for her.

         -The second dramaturgical choice I chose to address was the number of characters Zindel decided to give voices and faces to. The only characters the audience sees are Tillie, Beatrice, Ruth, Nanny, and Janice. Janice is only on stage for a short monologue and Nanny never speaks. This makes it clear who the main characters are. Through the use of multiple phone calls, Zindel introduces and includes other necessary characters. Another reason for the phone calls is that in order to have those discussions in person, Beatrice would have to leave the house. Zindel makes the clear choice to never show Beatrice outside of the house or leaving. Also, no outside characters come into the home. Other than nanny who lives with them, outsiders remain outside.