| Summary: | One newspaper article informed readers of the 'good play' "Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-on-the-Moon Marigolds" performed by the Auburn University Theatre Department May 20 through 25, 1975.'Gamma' Worth Seeing
"The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds" opened Tuesday night at Auburn University's Telfair Peet Theatre.
"Marigolds" is a beautifully depressing play dealing with the love-hate relationship
between a mother and her two daughters. I use "depressing" because at the end of the play nothing has changed � only the awareness of each one's distrust or faith in her future.
The direction by Ralph E. Miller is loose and free-
flowing.
A more experienced cast could have turned this plan into a spectacular event. As it is, "Marigolds" is a good play, but slow and full of
pregnant minutes, especially in Act I. Miller set the mood of the play beautifully in the first scene with Beatrice � set and music; no spoken lines; just his actresses moving about the set
with a particularly well-chosen piece of music in the background.
Cynthia Nicholson as Beatrice is fascinating to watch. Physically she is Beatrice, walking, sitting, drinking, smoking; but she is a hollow shell. There is no emotional content to her Beatrice. She comes off as Beatrice of the Wiregrass, not Beatrice of New Orleans.
Tillie, the sane and sensitive daughter, as played by Jan
Infante, is too sweet. Ruth, played by Bonner Nelson, is the best characterization of the three.
In many plays there is a character who has few if any lines at all, yet is an integral part of the play. Such is the character Nanny, performed superbly by Ami Poteat.
Nanny has an entrance that takes nearly five minutes to
accomplish. Her movements were totally believable, and with the great make-up job, I thought the director had raided a local nursing home and made off with a real 104-year-old lady.
"Marigolds" is a good show, but is not equal to Miller's "Guys and Dolls," which was presented earlier this season. There were a few opening night problems with the sound effects, but this is basically a good play and is worth seeing.
"Marigolds" will run through May 24 at 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. performance on May 25. � JARED DAVIS
AUBURN UNIVERSITY THEATRE
Presents
THE EFFECTS OF GAMMA RAYS ON MAN-IN-THE- MOON
MARIGOLDS
May 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 8:00 p.m.
Telfair Peet Theatre
Call 826-4154 for information "Reserve a place but not a seat" Students $1.00, Faculty $1.50, Gen Adm. $2.0
�Nick English
Gamma Rays
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon
Marigolds is the current Theatre production at the Telfair Peet and will run through May 25. Annette Norris, theatre critic for the Plainsman, was refused entry to the dress rehearsal Monday night by Dr. Cleveland Harrison, head of the theatre department. Harrison said reviewers would be
admitted to all future theatre productions on Tuesday opening night, which is also Plainsman deadline, Performances through Saturday begin at
8 p.m. with a Sunday Matinee at 2 p.m.
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