Reviews: Radium Girls presented by Mount Vernon HS
Written by Caroline Wright of Westfield High School
The year is 1920. In a factory in New Jersey, hundreds of women are painting watch dials with radium-infused paint. In order to get their brushes to a fine point, the girls are instructed to lick them. Paint, mouth, dial, repeat. But unbeknownst to them, the radium is toxic, and tragedy is closer than they think. Mount Vernon High School’s production of “Radium Girls” told the story of how these women persisted to get their day in court.
Written in 2000 by D. W. Gregory, this story follows the struggles of dial painter Grace Fryer as she tries to convince the public that radium is the cause of the outbreak of fatal illness among the dial painters. As the toxin sinks deeper into their bones, the worker’s deaths and illnesses are brushed aside. Lies, secrets, and rumors arise to avoid bad publicity concerning the watch factories. Grace speaks out for herself and her colleagues, but do people listen?
The students of Mount Vernon High School demonstrated outstanding attention to detail in their production. Every precise element of the props, costumes, set, hair, and makeup showed that period accuracy was prioritized. The crew found trends in 1920’s fashion and product styles, and expertly translated and executed them for the purposes of the production.
Natalie Stankiewicz’s performance as Grace Fryer showed a clear path of development. Grace went from an innocent, youthful girl to a strong-willed woman. Stankiewicz’s use of physical acting also showcased Grace’s development as radium necrosis took its toll. Stankiewicz incorporated details such as leaning on furniture or depending on fellow actors to stand, but continued to let Grace’s tenacity shine through. Matthew Boehm’s portrayal of Arthur Roeder displayed a range of emotion, from professional or loving to anxious or outraged. Boehm’s ability to change his demeanor and tone of voice from straitlaced and uptight in the factory to a loving husband and father at home was exemplary.
Micheal Hodges as Tom Kreider had an incredible performance as well. Hodges’s detailed physicality, clarity and consistency with an accent, and realistic chemistry with Stankiewicz were phenomenal. Hodges performed with bold, contrasting emotion that could make a scene heartwarming or heartbreaking. El Wendy’s performance as Kathryn Shaub was entertaining and executed with talent and expertise. Wendy did an excellent job changing from the comportment of a youthful and cheerful version of her character to one that was feeble and downtrodden. The way Wendy brought Kathryn to life made the character’s death increasingly excruciating.
In addition to the acting, the show had impeccable technical aspects. The props team, led by Eva Greek and Natalie Stankiewicz, collected and created stunning pieces that were accurate to the time period. Props such as a wheelchair, camera, and teacups were realistic to what would have been used when this story takes place. The team also created edible glow-in-the-dark paint, which greatly enhanced factory scenes. The hair and makeup team, lead by Arsenio Hill and Ace Naylor also made their work period-accurate. Popular makeup trends from the 1920’s were showcased in this production, varying based on a character’s position or socioeconomic status. The hair and makeup team also did an excellent job of showing the gradually deteriorating physical condition of the radium girls. As the show progressed, the characters could be seen with increasingly evident jaw inflammation, pallor, and disheveled hairstyles.
Mount Vernon High School’s production of “Radium Girls” displayed clear character growth from actors, as well as attention to time period accuracy and detail from a technical standpoint. This captivating narrative of struggle and perseverance brushed away the lies to see the truth shining through.
Written by Sasha Wendell of Falls Church High School
“The public doesn't have much sympathy for an angry woman.” Mount Vernon's insightful production of Radium Girls shows what happens when scientific progress, patriarchal institutions, and labor rights collide, ultimately reminding the audience of the resilience of the human spirit.
Written by D.W. Gregory, Radium Girls first premiered in 2000 at the Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey. The haunting, true story was met with wide acclaim, and has since captivated audiences worldwide, with international productions in Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand.
Set in the Roaring 1920s, Radium Girls tells the story of a group of factory girls who painted watch dials for the U.S. Radium Corporation in Orange, N.J. They did as they were told for years by licking their brush to create a precisely pointed tip, dipping it in the luminous paint, and meticulously painting the watch dials. Unbeknownst to them (but known to their employer), in doing so, they were exposed to fatal radiation poisoning. When the workers finally discovered that the radium-based paint they worked with was lethal, they decided to take a stand.
Matthew Boehm’s portrayal of the president of the corporation, Arthur Roeder, truly allowed this story to come to life. Boehm’s nuanced facial expressions allowed a glimpse into his internal monologue, and his booming voice and natural command of the stage gave him the air of authority necessary for his character. As the story progressed, Roeder moved from a confident and cunning businessman to a self-loathing, guilt-stricken man, and Boehm tackled these contrasting characteristics with ease. His unforced and believable chemistry with his wife, Mrs. Diane Roeder (Arsenio Hill), and daughter, Harriet Roeder (Abbi Convery), created a dynamic and multifaceted character. A small, well-thought-out detail was when Boehm put his arm around Hill and gave her a kiss on the head after returning home from work, strengthening their tender and realistic relationship in one instant.
Natalie Stankiewicz, as Grace Fryer, deftly portrayed a character who transformed from an innocent, meek victim to an indefatigable fighter, even as her health declined. Stankiewicz did a remarkable job leaning on props, people, and the set, perfectly demonstrating her failing health. Her pacing was excellent and her relationship with the charismatic and dedicated Tommy (Micheal Hodges) was charming and believable.
A notable aspect of this production was the makeup (Arsenio Hill and Ace Naylor), which was grotesquely accurate. To showcase the girls’ decaying faces, eyeshadow was used on their jawlines, and eyebags were added to display their suffering. As the play went on, the makeup progressively became more drastic and emphasized, gradually exposing the audience to the dreadful effects of the radium poisoning. Additionally, the superb sound (Elizabeth Snyder, Patrick Bryant, and Alexa Jarecki) also enhanced the story and the overall experience. Carefully curated, the transition music and the ominous ticking of the clock were disquieting and unsettling.
The show closed with a chilling tableau: Boehm, as Arthur, guiltily looking at the dead girls who were staring at him as he realized, “I never saw their faces,” and then a startling, haunting full theatrical blackout.
Mount Vernon’s Radium Girls delivered a poignant message about prioritizing profit over human life and, ultimately, considering the legacies that we leave behind. This brilliant, glow-in-the-dark production reminded the audience how far we have come, but still how far we have left to go.