November 28, 2016
Catherine Donohue began work as a 19-year-old woman. She died in her early 30's, weighing 65 pounds. She was one of many victims of radium poisoning in the early 20th century. East Texas Baptist University's Theatre Department led by Director Samantha Pettigrew told the story of Donohue and her co-workers on stage November 17-20 with ETBU's production of These Shining Lives.
The presentation featured a story of four women who worked for The Radium Dial Company in Chicago during the 1920s: Catherine Donohue (junior Kellie Papas), Frances O'Connoll (sophomore Payton Weinzapfel), Charlotte Purcell (junior Laramie Smith), and Pearl Payne (junior Rebekah Still).
"The most challenging thing about the show was the subject matter itself," senior Trace Craver who played the male lead, Tom Donohue said. "This show was based on true events, and I really wanted to portray the gravity of the story. It was hard at times to stay level-headed while also keeping up the emotional energy of the production."
The Radium Girls painted watch faces for mass production. The dial painters regularly ingested radium, as it was a common practice to use their mouths to create a fine point on their brushes. This daily and long-term exposure to radium caused the workers to develop jaw necrosis, varying diseases, and marring cancers; most tied to a premature death. The women in this heart wrenching story pursued legal action to a landmark Supreme Court decision that, still today, holds employers responsible for the safety of their employees.
"This show was most challenging for me emotionally," Papas said. "My character, Catherine, goes through a wide range of emotions as she deals with the fact that she's dying. Bringing out all those emotions every night was exhausting."
The cast agreed that the emotional aspects of the play were daunting. However, the technical side of the play had its challenges as well. According to sophomore Drew Frazier, the show had over 250 tech cues. He said that the complex lighting and sound cues were very difficult to master, but the cast and crew wanted them to be seamless.
"This play seeks to humanize a tragic anecdote from American history," Pettigrew said. "As Catherine narrates her story, she emphasizes certain details: the people she loves and their relationships. Her concern is centered on how these events affect those who stood with her through the court proceedings." Pettigrew added, "I hope that we did her story justice."
Rehearsals began October 13, ETBU's These Shining Lives company rehearsed every night for two-four hours and had two full day workshops to perfect their production.
"Whether it is the collaborative nature of a performance or the constant emphasis on producing a polished product, theatre provides wonderful experiences for our students in preparation for larger life-lessons that loom beyond graduation," Theatre Department Chair Traci Ledford said. "Additionally, many plays connect the human experience across generations, ask the difficult questions, or highlight a pressing issue. The stage is where a dialogue between two actors can lead to a dialogue between two strangers after the show. If we are effective, then that is what should happen."