Photos by Brian Paulette
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds
by Paul Zindel
Directed by Kyle Hatley
August 13th – 31, 2014
Staged at The Living Room Theatre
1818 McGee, Kansas City MO
Cast:
Beatrice – Melinda McCrary
Tillie – Zoe London
Ruth – Daria LeGrand
Janice – Hannah Freeman
Nanny – Joicie Appell
This Pulitzer Prize winner presents a wounded family unraveling at the age of innocence and at the age of no return. Life with Beatrice, an embittered single mother, resembles a hell more than a home for her two daughters. But Tillie, the youngest, finds her own way to connect to the world with resilience and hope.
Of special note in this production: Our own Melinda McCrary revisited this play, after having previously appeared as Tillie, 40 years earlier, in her professional debut at the Missouri Repertory Theatre in 1974. The production was directed by Patricia McIlrath, the Rep’s founder.
Director – Kyle Hatley
Stage Manager – Victoria Frank
Set Design – Matt Mott
Lighting Design – Jeff Cady
Costume Design – Kate Mott
Sound Design – Joe Concha
Props Design – Regina Weller
Assistant Stage Manager – Koki Sabates
Production Assistant – Josh Light
Production Assistant – Jana Latchaw
“…McCrary, is at her best and delivers an emotionally raw, well-observed performance that’s as thoughtful as it is immediate… This play gets under your skin.”
— Robert Trussell, The Kansas City Star (full review)
“Kansas City Actors Theatre opens its 10th season with a flash of atomic power. ”
— Liz Cook, The Pitch (full review)
“The trio of actresses do not miss a beat as they work through this piece… They produce a spine-tingling performance with tension at every juncture.”
— Bob Evans, The Examiner (full review)
