PORTLAND — Mad Horse Theatre Company will present the American classic with the tongue-twisting title, “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds,” opening Thursday, March 15.

The semi-autobiographical play by Paul Zindel won an Obie Award, New York Drama Critics Circle Award and the coveted Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

It tells the story of a single mother, Beatrice Hunsdorfer, and her teenage daughters, Ruth and Matilda. Abandoned by her husband and saddled with two children, Beatrice hates the world. She thinks she just needs the right opportunity, and everything will get better.

Ruth seems sadly fated to repeat her mother’s mistakes in her own life. Shy Matilda, or Tillie, is the joke of her school and her family, until a teacher opens her eyes to the wonders of science. When Tilllie’s project on the effect of gamma rays on man-in-the-moon marigold seeds is chosen for the school science fair, the dysfunctional family dynamic comes to a head.

Zindel’s work is loosely based on his own experience growing up in a single-parent household with a mother who constantly threatened suicide. His portrayal of the painful side of family life, delivered with just the right amount of humor, still resonates with audiences today, especially teenagers.

“We all have mothers and we carry the impact of our early years throughout our lives. Relationships with mothers are complex and sometimes challenging,” said director Chris Horton. “The play examines a particularly difficult relationship and how an individual can prevail in the face of dreadful circumstances. It is a play about love and forgiveness.”

“The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds” runs through April 1. Showtimes for the first two weeks are 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday. Showtimes for the third week are 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and 6 p.m. Sunday.

A silent auction benefiting Mad Horse Theatre Company will coincide with all performances.

Tickets are $22 for adults/$20 for students and seniors. Call 899-3993 or visit www.lucidstage.com. Mad Horse also offers pay-what-you-can performances each Thursday during the run. Lucid Stage is at 29 Baxter Blvd.