“Secret Information" on Radium Girls

Dissecting the unique plot and tone of the upcoming theater production, as well as what audiences should anticipate come November 10th

The first theater production of the year is soon to arrive, and this year’s Radium Girls has everyone in the school anticipating an enthralling story from the creative minds of Tom Kane, Ryan Dubray, and the wonderful student cast and crew. In preparation for the first showing on November 10th, I interviewed Mr. Kane and Mr. Dubray to retrieve some “hidden information” about what to expect come showtime.

Radium Girls is based on the true story of a group of female factory workers who contracted radiation poisoning from manufacturing radium dials, as they painted watch dials with dangerous self-luminous paint. After being informed of the supposed harmlessness of the paint, the women in the factories ingested deadly amounts of radium, as they were instructed to place their brushes between their lips to give them a fine tip, which was ideal for painting radium dials. Some even painted their fingernails, face, and teeth with the glowing substance. It was not until hundreds of women started developing symptoms that people started to realize the deadly nature of this radioactive element. But what happens next? Will the factory stop using these chemicals? Or will they hide the truth just for their profits? As far as content, I will leave it to the play to answer.

The style of the play this year is evidently different from that of years past, shying away from the typical joyful and humorous productions. According to Tom, he chose this play as he has been looking for “something different” that “tackles some heavier themes.” Besides, he has also been looking for a play that is relatively “new:” written in 2013, Radium Girls perfectly fits this desire. Furthermore, the play allows all 20 talented actors to have a more equal amount of lines. After watching this play, Tom wants the audience to think about the following two questions: how do we value women’s voices, and how do we react to the development of science, especially when science interferes with the profit of business? Despite its heavy subjects and somewhat serious tone, the story still has fun, lighthearted moments; however, going into the play, we audience members should nonetheless be compassionate about this true event that transpired a century ago. 

The preparation behind the play is something to note as well, as the work done behind the scenes is often overlooked. With the collective effort of the students in the tech group, the major platforms are already built and painted, all ready to go well in advance of showtime. Because of the numerous scene changes between the factory background and more specific settings, Mr. Dubray designed “two jackknife pivoting platforms” that allow the running crew to make smooth transitions between scene changes; one side of the contraption is on the stage while the other is hidden behind the curtain, allowing the crew to change the setting while keeping the factory in the center. The audience is therefore able to see the factory at all times, an important characteristic of the set since the entire story is set around the manufacturing plant. Furthermore, because the story covers heavier topics, the lighting will be quite distinct from past plays, as this gloominess will partially be conveyed through light––or, rather, a lack of it. 

As the date of the performance grows ever nearer, the cast and crew put their finishing touches on everything from the set and costumes to lighting and line delivery, and we wait in anticipation for the talented theater team and the display of their hard work. On behalf of Tom Kane, Ryan Dubray, and everyone involved in the production, I encourage you to witness this spectacle in the Kaye Theater on November 10th.

Katie Chen