Radium Girls by Sandra Russell

ABC Players presents "Radium Girls"

Thursday, Oct 7th, 2021 - Saturday, Oct 9th, 2021 | 7:30 pm
Stuart’s Opera House, Nelsonville, Ohio

Radium Girls
by Sandra Russell

I am presently one of nine actors in rehearsal for Radium Girls.   The action of the play occurs over seven years, with an epilogue occurring twelve years later. Interestingly according to biologist Jonas Frisen, the cells of the human body replace themselves over a period of 7- 10 years. I see this as a possible metaphor for a broader theme often referenced in the play- "humanitarian". What does 'humanitarian' mean when applied not with a broad brush,  to a global vague 'humanity',  but with a small brush, pointed to an individual; to a portrait? Questions brought to focus by the various characters in the play cause us to consider, what is trivial? When is "better than nothing" acceptable;  and when is "enough" really enough? I am challenged by this play and honored to be working with so many talented and generous production members. I asked that any who wished to express a thought about their experience with this show, or about ABC Players theatre group, to please share a bit of themselves with you here.

From James Colgan:  "This is my first production with ABC. We just moved to Athens last May and I was delighted to find a theatre company of such quality nearby. I'm enjoying the cast and the rehearsals and the theatre is just wonderful. I like the play Radium Girls a great deal, I think it's very timely and echoes the corporate misdeeds of the past, like Johns Manville's asbestos insulation, the Ford Pinto, and of course, the opioid epidemic (which I've written a play about) just to name a few. I have five different roles, something new in my twenty-five years of being onstage (most before was two), and which presents me with the challenge of several quick costume changes backstage. Let's hope I get the hats right."

From Sam Pelham:  "Being a part of Radium Girls has been such a moving experience, not only because it is one of the first in-person shows that has occurred in the area since the beginning of the pandemic, but also because of the story we're telling. This story is based on true events and to put ourselves in the position of these women who suffered terribly even just through acting for a few hours, really provides a new perspective. It is an honor to bring a voice to these women and tell their story - a common theme throughout the play - and to be able to do so with such a talented, kind-hearted cast."

From Jeroch Carlson:  “I love working with ABC players, and it is an honor to work with Stuart’s Opera House, which has such a distinguished history here in South Eastern Ohio.  Everyone is always a joy to create with.” 

From Charlotte Crawford:  "Being in the Radium Girls cast has been such a great experience. It’s been my first play with ABC and it has been amazing. Auditions were obviously nerve wracking, especially since it was my first out of school one. But when I got the call saying I got my part, I was ecstatic. The rehearsals have been so much fun. The rest of the cast and crew is so understanding and kind. They are genuinely great people and it has been an amazing opportunity for me. I’m very grateful that I get to be a part of this play. The topic is very serious but we have so much fun with it."

From Susan Gilfert:   "I've been asked to do props for the play. The props are generally anything the actors hold in their hands. This play is a bit challenging as the props not only include things like paintbrushes, letters, reports, newspapers, and notebook pads, but also food and drink. The actors are in each other's 'homes,' and of course there will be coffee, tea and edibles consumed. I will need to have edibles backstage, and wash dishes as part of my clean-up after every rehearsal and performance."

From Joe Balding:  "Radium Girls has been a great experience so far. I hope we get large audiences." 

From the director, Celeste Parsons:  "Rehearsing a play is a balancing act for both director and actors.  The director needs to balance the use of the stage,  making sure that each actor can be seen when the attention of the audience should be on him or her, and that actors move around the stage in a way that is appropriate for the words they are speaking without getting in each other's way.  Actors need to maintain an emotional balance for their characters so that the play doesn't reach its high point too soon.  In an ensemble cast such as that for Radium Girls, actors also have to balance several different characters, sometimes literally exiting as one character and a few seconds later entering as another.  Having all of these balancing acts come together during rehearsals and create the finished performance makes the 'theater magic' that we all love."

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   About the Author: Sandra Russell was born in rural Athens County, at mid-century modern time in a pre-Civil War farmhouse near Hebardsville, Ohio.  Sandra's interests include art history, studio arts, animals both wild and domestic, and baking. She can sometimes be found on the stage performing in local community theater productions, or behind the scenes creating props or designing sets. Sandy's recent DNA results have increased her interest in learning more about Scotland.