By Ariana Beck
This spring, Judson University put on a production of Radium Girls. This play is based on true events and showcases heartache and determination. I was blessed to be a part of this incredible show, and I learned so much about the radium girls and their heart-wrenching story. Through this production, I learned so much about history and about becoming a better actress. This story is meant to be shared. Because of that, I wanted to give you some insight into Radium Girls, and why it was chosen for Judson University’s Spring Play.
During World War I, there were many dial painting companies all over the U.S. These watch dials were painted with radium so they would glow in the dark and allow soldiers to see in darkness. Hundreds of young women were hired to paint these watch dials because of their small hands. As a result of their hand size, the women were able to draw the specific details on the watch faces. While painting the watches, the radium girls had to lick the brushes so they would make a perfect point to paint the tiny details. Soon, the women who worked for the radium companies became known as “ghost girls,” because their clothes and hair would glow from the paint.
At first, many were not aware of how harmful radium actually was. French physicists Marie Curie and Pierre Curie discovered that radium could be used as a treatment for cancer. Soon, radium was incorporated in many different products such as toothpaste and cosmetics. Unfortunately, Marie Curie ended up dying from radium exposure. And just like Marie Curie, many of the women that worked in the radium factories ended up dying because of radium as well. However, the company denied that the paint was harmful, and they came up with any possible excuse as to why the girls fell ill and died.
In 1925, Harrison Martland performed a test on the radium that proved the paint was, in fact, killing the girls in the factory. As a result of this, the girls had the opportunity to fight back with the help of Raymond Berry, who, in 1927, agreed to be their attorney in the radium case.
Still, the United States Radium Corp. denied that the radium was killing the workers. The radium girls continued to fight their case even though many of them did not get the chance to see this fight to the end. It wasn’t until 1938, when Catherine Wolfe Donohue successfully sued the company, that the matter finally concluded.
The play Radium Girls stars three factory workers, Grace Fryer, Kathryn Shaub, and Irene Rudolph. Each of these girls get sick from the radium, and in the end, only one is left to fight their case. Meanwhile, the company president, Arthur Roeder, denies that he ever knew that the radium was harmful. In the end, however, he is fired from the company. This play shows the perspective of Grace Fryer, a radium girl, and it shows the perspective of Mr. Reorder, the company president. The two different viewpoints add a layer of deep emotion to the story, and it helps the audience have a deeper understanding of what took place.
I asked my director, Regan Rohde, why she wanted to direct this show. Regan said she wanted to direct Radium Girls because she loved that it showcased real women whose stories are so interesting and tragic. When I asked Regan what Radium Girls meant to her, she told me that the whole experience was meaningful. She loved working with the cast and crew and having the opportunity to bring this story to life. There are many themes in Radium Girls that still ring true today, and a theme that especially stood out to Regan was the importance of media literacy. Lastly, Regan talked about how it’s important to be able to discern truth versus lies in the stories that are told to us.
I was also able to talk to the producer of Radium Girls, Melissa Hoegh. I asked her why she wanted this particular show to be performed at Judson University. Melissa explained that she had the opportunity to direct this show at Judson 8 or 9 years ago, when she heard the story for the first time. However, she did not end up choosing to direct the show at that time. When Melissa was asking Regan to direct the show this year, she wanted to pick something Regan would be passionate about. Melissa asked her to bring a list of plays she wanted to direct, and eventually, Regan and Melissa decided to choose Radium Girls. Melissa shared that it had been a long time since Judson put on such a heavy production, but she believes that it’s important to hear these tragic historical stories. Finally, Melissa mentioned that the whole production was a learning experience, and it was an amazing opportunity for students to act in a play with characters who are not always happy or lucky. These characters had a sense of depth that strengthened all the actors as performers.
Radium Girls was such an incredible production, and Regan and Melissa did a fantastic job with this show. As a cast member, I learned so much from this experience, and I definitely grew as an actress. I also had the chance to work with an amazing and talented cast, who made the whole experience that much better. Radium Girls is a moving show full of history, heartbreak, and the occasional lighthearted moment. I am truly grateful to have been a part of this wonderful experience.
Works Cited:
Vaughan, Don. “Radium Girls: The Women Who Fought for Their Lives in a Killer Workplace.” Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/story/radium-girls-the-women-who-fought-for-their-lives-in-a-killer-workplace.
The Judson Mosaic 