PCHS Drama Club puts a spotlight on gender and workplace injustice

Fall production of ‘Radium Girls’ debuts this weekend

November 21, 2024 at 12:31 a.m.

U.S. Radium Corporation workers Kathryn Schaub and Grace Fryer (played by Antonia Rieke and Amber Funes) worry over their friend Irene Rudolph (played by Melani Chica) in an early scene from “Radium Girls” on Tuesday, Nov. 19, hinting that the radioactive metal might not be all it seems. The members of the Port Chester High School Drama Club are preparing to debut their fall play this weekend. (David Tapia/Westmore News)

Since Christina Baurle started as a theater teacher at Port Chester High School in 2021, the Drama Club’s performances have reflected a tone she felt was needed in the district.

“We’ve mostly done comedies because we were just getting out of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said. “I think the community needed something lighthearted. But as time went on, the students started showing more interest in dramatic acting.”

Last year, that enthusiasm manifested in their tension-fueled performance of “12 Angry Jurors.” And when it came to selecting this year’s fall show, the students opted to dive even further into the drama—with the emotional tale of “Radium Girls.”

    A newsie played by Matias Vega announces the imminent arrival of Marie Curie to the area during her visit to the U.S. in 1921.
 By David Tapia   

“This is a show that’s very somber and emotional in a way we haven’t worked in before,” Sophia Tellez, the senior crew member serving as stage manager, said. “And it deals with societal issues that hit a little harder because they still apply today.”

The play is an interpretation of the true story of women who contracted radiation poisoning while working in the U.S. Radium Corporation plant in the 1920s. The workers would paint watch faces with radium paint, giving them a glow-in-the-dark feature.

At the time, the deadly effects of radioactive material had yet to be known.

While the scientists who created the paint wore protective gear, the women in the factories did not—they were even trained to dip their paintbrushes into their mouths to make painting on the small surfaces easier.

A group of former workers sued the company once their colleagues’ deaths were tied to the radioactive material, setting the precedent for labor rights across the country.

    World-famous scientist Marie Curie, portrayed by Cielo Vintimilla, speaks about the health benefits of radium and all its medicinal potential.
 By David Tapia   

“I was really excited when I heard this was the show we were doing because I knew it was so interesting,” Jordan Rivera said. The junior plays the role of Arthur Roeder, the man running the company during the majority of the play’s events. “And what’s even more interesting to me is that these aren’t really characters. We kind of had to think about it completely differently.”

Baurle said having students take a step back from viewing the play as a fictional story was something she focused on.

“Students really had to recognize that these were real people who had to live the choices they made,” she said. “I know Jordan’s part can be seen as a villain, but I wanted them to ask themselves if it was bad to feel bad for him. I didn’t think so.”

It’s something that Amber Funes, the sophomore playing the lead role of Grace Fryer, found striking.

    Arthur Roeder (left) tells Charlie Lee his plans to create a fortune by exploring the markets radium can be used for. They are played by Jordan Rivera and Alejandro Mojica, respectively.
 By David Tapia   

“It really made the experience kind of surreal,” she said. “These were real women who realized they were being treated poorly and had to fight for themselves. And I think that’s something that still happens today. People should pay attention to this story because you can still see it going on.”

Rivera is hopeful audience members will walk away from their performance thinking about where they see that kind of abusive behavior today.

“I think the big takeaway from the show is that people really need to listen to one another,” he said. “There are people in the world who are in powerful positions that don’t just ignore women’s voices but everyone else as well.”

The show’s director said she hopes people don’t just consider the themes of the play but how far Port Chester High School’s theater program has come.

    Dr. Sabin Von Sochocky, played by Diego Vega, addresses his workers at the U.S. Radium Corporation after announcing his resignation from the company.
 By David Tapia   

“This group is the largest cast and crew we’ve had since I started working here,” she said. “This is a performance that’s probably one of the most challenging they’ve had for both of those groups. It’s very demanding for the actors and everyone else on the team. But they really stepped up and I hope people can see that.”

“Radium Girls” will run on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 22 and Nov. 23, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at our.show/pchsplay24 for $10.