Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, The

PowPAC's production of The Effects Of Gamma Rays On Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds should not be missed. In it, epileptic Ruth (Blair Hollingsworth) is bipolar, catty, both nasty and nice, and extremely convincing when she has a fit. She's a brat, a supportive sister and is emotionally close to her mother. She is duplicitous and manipulative, with emotions that change in nanoseconds. Old mute Nanny (Beth Mercurio, aging herself a good 40 years) is being taken care of (read: taken advantage of) by Beatrice. Lindsay O'Connor, as High Schooler Janice adds some fun to the piece with a little Valley Girl texture. Director Kate Hewitt cast with perfection, and the onstage movements are well-planned and logical for these subtle, non-stereotypical characters.

Joel Colbourn's set is just about as ugly as possible, with Chaike Levine's set dressing making it, intentionally, worse. Leona Stringfield's props also add to the slothful environment. (Be sure to take a look at the upstage wall -- this is not just a hot water thingee.) Peter McGuinness' effective lighting includes some nice solo pieces, with Lou Alliano's sound design complementing the production.