The Santa Fe High theater is putting on a production of The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds on Dec. 7, 8 and 9.

This play follows the lives of an insane and overbearing mother, Beatrice; an intelligent and reserved daughter, Tillie; and her moody sister, Ruth. This trio explores the troubled waters of hopes and dreams that are riddled with psychiatric complications.

Senior Sophie Colson is directing this production, which will be her first. “It’s refreshing because I can get a new perspective, as in what it’s like to be the director instructing an actor,” says Sophie. “Because I am an actor, I can understand how to give constructive notes.”

In this drama, Beatrice has suffered the loss of her husband, her aspirations, and with it, her sanity. Ruth copes with seizures and identity while Tillie uses science to find her importance in life within a family who doesn’t understand her. This dysfunctional family struggles to prevail in a world filled with poverty, mental instability and clashing personalities.

Sophie says there are many themes in the play, but the main one? “I would have to say resilience,” she says.

Tillie and Ruth must be resilient to survive under the same roof as their pessimistic mother. Ivy St. Clair, who plays Ruth, says she enjoys the role. “I get to be loud and exaggerate my already sarcastic attitude,” she says.

Sophie says she thinks the audience will like Tillie or Grampy most. Grampy lives with the three ladies as part of Beatrice’s caretaking services. Although his original story is unknown, his character is no less complex.

Dylan Kyle, who plays Grampy, says that the interesting thing about his character is that Grampy is old, so it’s interesting to imagine that role while still being so young. He states, “I stop thinking about what’s going on, and I watch the body language from the corner of my eye and just start reacting. To play Grampy, I just have to remove myself from the scene, and I try to think about my backstory. I imagine that I got polio, and I stopped using my legs, and over time I become deaf.”

About the play, Sophie says, “The best part is the end… you’ll have to come and see!”

The show runs Dec. 7, 8 and 9 at 7:33 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and students under 18, and $5 for inducted Thespian Club members. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at https://www.santafehigharts.org/.