Radium Girls: A Powerful Play Reflecting Media Influence and Justice Struggles
"Radium Girls, written by D.W. Gregory, explores the true story of female dial-painters at US Radium Corporation in the 1920s. The play delves into themes of media impact, personal choices in adversity, accountability, and the commercialization of science. Through the struggles and battles of the Radium Girls against the company's negligence, the narrative highlights the power of public opinion, the quest for justice, and the conflicts faced by both the victims and the perpetrators. With a backdrop of historical events and societal shifts, the play unravels the tragic consequences of corporate greed and the fight for recognition and compensation."
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RADIUM GIRLS By DW Gregory
Background Information Radium Girls was written in 2000 by D.W. Gregory Newark Star-Ledger s best play of 1999-2000 Finalist for Eugene O Neill National Playwrights Conference The title refers to the main focus of the play, the female dial-painters of the US Radium Corporation, the radium girls . The title also reflects headlines that related to the women of US Radium, who were dubbed the radium girls which is significant due to the media s importance in the play. The play takes place in Orange, New Jersey throughout the 1920 s. The play was written at the turn of the century, when media and information began to grow more powerful due to increased access to internet, reflecting the plays media centric motifs. The setting of the play over the course of several years allows us to see the characters mature and develop throughout the play.
Media coverage decides public opinion- Throughout the play reporters and journalists act as a Chorus to show public opinion, the coverage of the girls also help to cement their case against US Radium and gain public favor. Though life is unjust we have the power to choose fight against it- Grace is constantly presented with choices that she shirks responsibility of, but grows to accept that she must choose to fight even when it s difficult. Paying for your mistakes does not equate to admitting to them- The company settles with the women, and its former President Roeder who didn t choose to come clean, is tormented by his apathy towards the women, despite the fact that he lost his position for his negligence. Commercializing science misinforms the public- Radium is touted as a cure-all throughout the play and the Company pays for a book to be compiled to showcase the medical uses of radium, and the company pays a Phd Doctor to convince the women their conditions did not come from the Radium plant Themes of the play
MAJOR HEADLINES- THE DANGER OF RADIUM SOB SISTER :Radium hits the scene in 1926, promoted as miracle cures and fountains of youth, but especially in the luminescent watch industry, due to WW1! REPORTER: In this show, we follow the lives of our Radium Girls as they navigate legal courts and compensation, as well as the impact radium has on their psyche and personal life. But the Company fights its own battles as well. Despite all the pain the industry has inflicted on these girls, the Company is made up of some very good men, who must navigate their changing moral landscapes as their views of the world and themselves is tested. SOB SISTER: Follow us as we explore the world of Radium Girls!
Conflict within The central conflict of Radium Girls is their battle against the U.S Radium Company, as they fight to receive compensation and acknowledgment for all the pain that was inflicted on them. The Inciting Incident occurred when Grace and Kathryn s dear friend, Irene, dies due to complications from radium, though never acknowledged in her medical report. This incident causes Grace to seek retribution for her and her radium sisters, taking us to the climax of the play, where it is revealed in court all the medical reports had been tainted to cover up the truth, misrepresenting what was really happening to the girls and their bodies.
Girls vs. US Radium Grace U.S. Radium Grace is the focus of the play and the girl that began the lawsuit against US Radium with the help of Ms. Wiley, refuses to give into bribery and hush money offered up by the company, continues to fight for the girls even as her friends die and fall to radiation poisoning. The US Radium corporation is the main force that work against the lawsuit put forth by Grace and Ms. Wiley, with its executives like Roeder and Lee sending hush money and doctor s in their pocket to drop the lawsuit. No one executive is solely responsible so it is the business as a whole that is the antagonist.
characterszzzzzzz THE GIRLS, BC WE ARE A MAINLY FEMALE CLASS! LOOKIN AT U ETHAN -Grace: She is the main protagonist, with the feelings of the Radium Girls being largely expressed through her. She is kind and initially soft spoken, but transforms into a strong independent woman by the end of the play -Kathryn: Grace s BFF, she is strong spoken and stubborn, the first to realize the truth about Irene s death -Irene: The third amigo to the trio, she is romantic and easily excitable, the most lively of the two until her death - Miss Wiley: Our savior of the play, she is a worldly suffragette who is essential to Grace s plans - Macneil: The lead factory worker, an older, no-nonsense woman in charge of the girls
characterszzzzzzz THE BOISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS- for ethan Tom: Grace s fiance, tots enamored with her, always tries to be there for her, and desperately wishes to get married Markley: Company s lawyer, trying to do the right thing, morals become questioned by himself Roeder: Responsible for the company, working everyday to keep it afloat, not necessarily bad, but is ignorant to the consequences the girls suffer due to his decisions Von Sochocky: Creator of the radium paint, kind hearted, jolly man who tries to keep the girls safe by giving safer instructions on handling the radium, but attempts undermined by Roeder
QUOTES QUOTES QUOTES QUOTES and vocab Dr.Von Sochocky told me not to do that. He said it s- unsanitary - Grace defending her decision to wipe radium on cloth, not lips, before being rebuffed Yeah? That s how it started for Irene. Just a toothache. You wait, Grace. You wait, you ll wake up one morning, your gums hurting so bad you won't be able to open your mouth. So weak and sick ya won't be able to stand up- The pain so bad you won't be able to sleep. And your face so swollen you won't be able to stand the sight of yourself - Kathryn to Grace after Irene s death Sob Sister: a female journalist who writes articles with sentimental appeal or answers readers problems. Whistling Dixie : refers to a studied carelessness
Scenes selected Scene 7 Act 1 pgs 38-42- Kathryn, Grace, Tom, Clerk- Kathryn Grace and Tom go to the health department to file a complaint, Grace is uncertain if the complaint is worth the trouble, Kathryn becomes heated and Tom adamantly tells Grace she s gone too far, Kathryn tells Grace about Irene s rotting jaw and she breaks down crying, prompting Grace to file the complaint. Scene 11 Act 2 pgs 94-98- Grace, Mrs. Fryer, Markley- Markley comes over to get Grace to sign a settlement that her mother wants so she can pay off the mortgage and hospital bills, but Grace realizes the settlement takes blame away from the company and shifts it to the women, and she chews him out for this, then delivers a monologue saying she s making the choice to truly stand up. Scene 3 Act 1 pgs 20-24- Grace, Irene, Kathryn, Ms. Macneil- The girls discuss the funeral of a coworker, and Ms. Macneil informs the girls of new protocol regarding brushes and chews out Grace, the girls continue to discuss Amelia's Funeral and start to gossip about her reason of death, and a possible forbidden love she had.
ETHAN ALYX I found the play to be an interesting narrative of a historical happenstance I was only vaguely aware of. The ability of the play to realistic close knit scenes between a small group and then transition into stylized sequences with reporters functioning as a Greek Chorus as an auditory newspaper article. Roeder s ark within the play also adds humanity to the faceless corporation, but does not forgive his inhumane actions. Very engaging dialogue and relatable characters through the figures of Irene, Grace, and Kathryn. A compelling narrative of science gone wrong and capitalism, along with the continued realization of the lack of women s rights at the time. I believe this play would be a perfect candidate for a female heavy scene, as any girl would be able to connect with the characters presented. Personal reaction
Cited sources Gregory, D.W. Radium Girls. Playwright DW Gregory, 25 June 2018, dwgregory.com/plays/drama/radium-girls/. And the Big Brains of Ethan Morrison and Alyx Price, circa 23 October 2019, msobryansclass.theatre4/3
