      */
     override public function play():void
     {
+        super.play();
+
         if (!propertyValuesList || propertyValuesList.length == 0)
         {
             // nothing to do; at least schedule the effect to end after

        animation.repeatDelay = repeatDelay;
        animation.repeatBehavior = repeatBehavior;
        animation.easer = easer;
        animation.startDelay = startDelay;
                    
        animation.play();
          

        // play() functionality (the setup and playing of the Animation object)
        // into startEffect(), calling play() from here, and not overriding
        // play() at all.
        
        if (autoRemoveTarget)
            addDisappearingTarget();
