This is a sponsored feature. All opinions are 100% from Her Campus.
Imagine the run-down, factory town of Orange, New Jersey 1917. The only thing that worries you, as a young, college-aged woman, is how much money you’re going to make while licking paintbrushes to give them a fine point and how you’re possibly going to afford to keep a roof over your head; not what you’re able to afford on Wanelo. When I was prompted to attend Radium Girls, I had yet to read the playwright written by D.W. Gregory and from seeing the flyers in my hallway, I assumed it was some made-up story about girls who made it through some sort of struggle. I figured it was a nice event to go to and I would come out saying to myself, “well, that was a cute story but it was all pretend.” Well, was I wrong. This production really opened my eyes to not just how awesome Saint Mary’s theatre is, but to how much I personally take for granted on a daily basis.
While I sit in my cozy dorm room at my beautiful, Catholic college, worrying about how my back tooth is slightly chipped (actually though), these girls had to sit in a gross, run-down factory all day and deal with their teeth rotting, falling out, and disappearing…all due to radium poisoning! The real clincher is that all this is 100% based on true facts. Radium poisoning once was undiscovered and actually harmed young girls before people came to understand just how absolutely horrible the chemical is.
Radium Girls was directed by Richard Baxter, professor of theatre here at Saint Mary’s. I attended the play on the dress rehearsal night in the Little Theatre in Moreau hall, and since one of the actors was ill, Richard had to step in and play the part. Not only is he a great director, but hey, he can act, too! What’s better than a director who can actually do what he directs? Erin Moran (Class of 2015) plays the main character, Grace, who settles for nothing less than justice. In the play, Grace, a dial painter for a clock company, is poisioned by the radium inotxication and is furious with the company she worked for because they will not own up to knowing of this atrocity. The cast also includes a few Saint Mary’s professors, including Ted Billy, Bill Svelmoe, David Stefancic, and Michael Kramer. The play followed the story of three girls who were poisioned by radium while working in the factory. After a death of her friend, Grace Fryer fights her way to court and never puts her foot down. She shows the importance of progressivism, standing up for what you believe in, and never settling. The play was phenomenal and if you haven’t read the book, you probably should!
As I watched the story unfold on stage, I was pleasantly surprised. The cast, the stage design, and the comfy chairs were all fabulous! As I recognized some of the girls on stage, I was intrigued by what they do on a daily basis. Theatre takes some awesome skills and these girls nailed it! Especially for a dress rehearsal, I noticed nothing wrong and was completely engaged the whole time. Confession: This was my first college production and as I am ashamed to admit this, I can’t help but oo and aw over just how much I actually enjoyed it. I feel that we all too often look past the awesome productions, plays, and performances our colleges put out for us to attend. Let’s be honest here, the majority of us are prompted to attend because either:
a) You have to go for a class and will have an in-class essay to write about next Tuesday in your ENLT 109 W class or
b) It is an extra credit opportunity and hey…those don’t come around too often in college.
After seeing Radium Girls, I really wish people went to plays produced by Saint Mary’s more often. It is actually a fabulous time! The audience was small, but next time we have a play, let’s give the Little Theatre BIG support!