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Radium Girls (competition piece)

  • D.W. Gregory
  • One Act, Drama, Comedy, 1920s
  • 5M, 5F
  • ISBN: RD2

"A compelling new drama... the playwright lays out the facts with historical accuracy, descriptive simplicity and graphic candor."

Variety

  • One Act
  • Drama, Comedy
  • 40 minutes

  • Time Period: 1920s
  • Target Audience: Teen (Age 14 - 18), Adult, Appropriate for all audiences
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings

  • Performance Group:
  • High School/Secondary, College Theatre / Student, Community Theatre
In 1926, radium was a miracle cure, Madame Curie an international celebrity, and luminous watches the latest rage -- until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease.

Inspired by a true story, Radium Girls traces the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court. Her chief adversary is her former employer, Arthur Roeder, an idealistic man who cannot bring himself to believe that the same element that shrinks tumors could have anything to do with the terrifying rash of illnesses among his employees. As the case goes on, however, Grace finds herself battling not just with the U.S. Radium Corporation, but with her own family and friends, who fear that her campaign for justice will backfire.

Written with warmth and humor, Radium Girls is a fast-moving, highly theatrical ensemble piece for 9 to 10 actors, who play more than 30 parts -- friends, co-workers, lovers, relatives, attorneys, scientists, consumer advocates, and myriad interested bystanders. Called a 'powerful' and 'engrossing' drama by critics, Radium Girls offers a wry, unflinching look at the peculiarly American obsessions with health, wealth, and the commercialization of science. 

REVIEWS:

"A compelling new drama... the playwright lays out the facts with historical accuracy, descriptive simplicity and graphic candor."

Variety

"Radium Girls may speak to our collective capacity for denial. But it also celebrates our individual courage."

The Daily Record, Morristown, N.J.

"The best new play in New Jersey professional theatre."

The Star-Ledger

  • Casting: 5M, 5F
  • Casting Attributes: Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle)
  • Casting Notes: May be expanded to 30 or more.

Name Price
Radium Girls (competition piece) Script Order Now

In 1926, radium was a miracle cure, Madame Curie an international celebrity, and luminous watches the latest rageeuntil the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story, Radium Girls traces the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court. Her chief adversary is her former employer, Arthur Roeder, an idealistic man who cannot bring himself to believe that the same element that shrinks tumors could have anything to do with the terrifying rash of illnesses among his employees. As the case goes on, however, Grace finds herself battling not just with the U.S. Radium Corporation, but with her own family and friends, who fear that her campaign for justice will backfire. Written with warmth and humor, Radium Girls is a fast-moving, highly theatrical ensemble piece for 9 to 10 actors, who play more than 30 partsefriends, co-workers, lovers, relatives, attorneys, scientists, consumer advocates, and myriad interested bystanders. Called a 'powerful' and 'engrossing' drama by critics, Radium Girls offers a wry, unflinching look at the peculiarly American obsessions with health, wealth, and the commercialization of science. Unit set with simple props. Approximate running time: 40 minutes.

Also Availvable:

Radium Girls (full length play)

$19.95