The Ulrey Performing Arts Center is featuring the true story “Radium Girls,” starting Thursday, March 27 until March 29.
The story takes place in 1926 and follows the court case of female factory workers who make glow-in-the-dark watch dials. The women contracted radiation poisoning from licking the ends of the brushes to make a fine point.
“You get to see two sides of the court case,” sophomore stage manager Jessica Duren said. “The girl who is dying from radiation poisoning and the company president — who is naive of the effects at first.”
Senior Nate White plays the company president, Arthur Roeder. He said this play shows how there is good even in the bad. He said this is specifically shown in the actions of Roeder in how he is trying to make his company successful, even at the expense of others.
“I enjoyed working on scenes with (junior) Jenna Light, who plays my wife,” White said. “These scenes humanize him. The audience paints him as the villain of the story, but when you see him interact with his wife and him turn down a chance for corruption, you can see that there exists good and evil within him — just as (good and evil) exist in everyone.”
Junior Tayler Robinson plays the factory supervisor, Mrs. McNeil, and a tabloid reporter.
“The cast had to overcome the notion that people are either good or bad,” Robinson said. “There are a lot of good people in the story who make poor decisions, and I personally had to stop myself from thinking it’s either black or white.”
Robinson said she hopes the audience will be able to recognize the courage that lies in everyday people.
“The story centers around ordinary factory workers who rise up to fight for what they believe is just,” Robinson said.
White said he has fond feelings toward the show and relates to the characters and has grown to love them.
“Sometimes they caved to their fears and selfish wants, and sometimes they did good,” White said. “But you’ll see on stage certain things you’ve battled with yourself.”
Duren said this show is interesting and different because with the exception of the two leads, every cast member plays multiple characters.
“It’s the actors who make the show perfect,” Duren said. “It’s not by any flashy lights or amazing costumes. It’s all the actors and their message.”
White said “Radium Girls” is a show that would appeal to those who consider themselves deep thinkers or who value self-analysis He said it is worth $10 and a couple hours of your time.
Robinson said although the show is heavy, it is good for people to come see because it is different than anything Harding has put on in the last few years, and it carries such an important message.
“Radium Girls” is directed by Chair of the Department of Theatre Robin Miller and sophomore Rob Yates and will be in the Ulrey at 7 p.m. tonight and tomorrow night.
