"The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds" might initially come across as a comedy, when it is quite the opposite.

The Lehigh Department of Theatre production of the play continues at 8 p.m. Oct. 1 -3, Diamond Theater, Zoellner Arts Center, 420 E. Packer Avenue, Bethlehem.

The play written by Paul Zindel, Jr. received the 1971 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, an Obie Award and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award as Best American Play in 1971.

The play tells the story of a young and brilliant girl named Matilda, often referred to as Tillie, who is intimidated by her mother's pessimism.

Tillie, despite her abusive mother, Beatrice, and her distraught sister, Ruth, is able to cope with her dysfunctional family through her passion for science.

Lehigh's production was directed by Emma Gifford, Lehigh Class of '15. This is the third play Gifford has directed at Lehigh. Although it is the first serious play she has taken on, she said it is her favorite thus far.

Gifford began working on the production in June. Casting did not begin until the beginning of the semester, leaving the cast with less than one month for rehearsal.

The cast is: Meghan Harris, '15, playing Beatrice; Julia Tvardovskaya, '16, as Tillie; Rebecca Fryer, '17, as Ruth; Emily Drabik-Stevens, '15, as Nanny; and Hallie Bodenstab, '18, as Janice Vickery.

Gifford chose the play because, while it is abrasive and "not nice to look at," it has a sense of hopefulness. She hopes the audience relates to the characters and leaves wondering more about the play.

Harris said theater-goers may think the play is upbeat because the word "Marigolds" is in its title. "However, it's a very heavy play that has a huge buildup leading to a series of bad events," she says.

"Typically, the man is the villain. But this play strays from the norm [as] the female [plays] the 'bad guy,'" Harris says.

Beatrice is an abusive, rude and boisterous character. Harris doesn't like many of the character's traits, but enjoys playing the role because of how opposite it is from herself.

"Through all of the hate, there is some love in this family, which is hard to see sometimes in other shows," Harris says.

Fryer says that the character that she plays, Ruth, exemplifies amplified emotions and occasionally acts crazy because of post-traumatic stress disorder and epilepsy. Fryer watched videos and read articles in order to portray the role realistically and be sensitive to persons with such challenges.

The most difficult part of her role, Fryer says, was having to keep up with Ruth's constant mood changes. The mood changes demonstrate how "real" a person Ruth is, as everyone isn't always at their best. Fryer was drawn to the role because Ruth is "out there" and "off the beaten path."

Bodenstab enjoys playing Janice Vickery, a bubbly teenager, because the character contrasts with the rest of the cast. This is Bodenstab's first production at Lehigh.

"I hope people take away that life is valuable and you can find beauty no matter what your family situation is," Bodenstab says. "Even in a horrible situation, Tillie finds beauty and happiness. There is always a ray of hope, no matter what."

Ticket information: zoellnerartscenter.org, 610-758-2787 (7LU-ARTS); Zoellner Ticket Services: noon - 5 p.m. Wednesday - Friday, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday, 90 minutes before curtain

Lisa Kocay is a lifestyle writer and an associate editor for the sports staff of The Brown And White Lehigh University student newspaper. This article is reprinted from the Sept. 29 edition of The Brown And White.