Cappies Review: 'Radium Girls' At Bishop Ireton High School

By Keeley Bryant of Mount Vernon High School

Bishop Ireton's production of Radium Girls tells the story of a group of women and their bravery in a time where the world seemed to be working against them. This play relays the haunting tale of the women who were affected by radium poisoning caused by the paint they received to paint dial watches with. It exemplifies their bravery and their fight to receive some sort of compensation for what had been done to them.

The story follows Grace Fryer: a young woman working at the radium plant to help her family out. Slowly, her friends notice weird changes to their health, ultimately leading her to quit her job out of fear. Once she notices these changes within herself, she begins the fight for her day in court that will follow her for the rest of her life.

The situation the characters have been placed in throughout the show makes them deeply rooted in their emotions. This need for emotional value makes the job of the actors more difficult. Bishop Ireton's actors performed their job well, allowing the character's emotions to drive their actions. Lyndsey Lawrence, who played Grace Fryer, played her role with the confidence her character needed. She convinced the whole audience that she was going to get the compensation she so desperately needed. Lawrence's strong acting choices were also prominent. As her character's health deteriorated, her physicality went from that of a young woman full of life to someone who is clearly living out their last days. Even in scenes where she was sitting, there was a clear change in her posture. Another impressive actor was Andrew Holland who played Arthur Roeder. As the president of the company that caused Grace's disease, he was placed in a difficult position. The guilt and remorse he felt was clear in not only in the way the lines were delivered but also in the way he chose to move around the stage. He looked as though he had the world resting on his shoulders. Furthermore, Holland's choice to play the character not as a villain but as a human helped the audience feel empathy for the situation he had been placed in. The ensemble also showed their dedication to their characters. They always seemed to react in their own ways to what was going on, making the experience more lifelike.

The technical aspects in this show were also quite impressive. One of the most important parts of the show was the effects of the radium on the body. The makeup choices instilled the chilling feeling the audience was supposed to receive upon seeing these effects. The most impressive use of makeup was the necrosis given to Dr. Von Sochocky. It truly looked like he was afflicted by the horrible condition. Another impressive aspect of the show were the costumes, 19 of which were made completely from scratch. These costumes were beautiful and perfectly matched the period. The use of unflattering colors for each actor whose health was deteriorating was also a nice touch, as it helped to make them look sickly as the show went on.

Bishop Ireton's staging of Radium Girls was beautifully done. Both the acting and the technical aspects come together to tell this harrowing story. Overall, this production provides a reminder of the bravery of these women, and how one should never just sit back and take it.

Image (from left to right): Andrew Comlish, Andrew Holand, Jake Carlo, by Carly Walbert