Radium Girls
at J.P. Taravella High School

Reviewed on October 7, 2022

Haleigh Mish
NSU University School
Submitted for publication to www.floridatheateronstage.com

Sometimes the brightest glow can blind us from the darkest truth. JP Taravella High School's production of Radium Girls truthfully demonstrates the reprehensible reality of corporate greed, inequality, and injustice in the 1920's.

Written by D.W. Gregory, Radium Girls tells the true story of Grace Fryer, a victim of radium poisoning. The story is set in Orange, New Jersey in the 1920's, 20 years after the discovery of the radioactive element radium. At the time, radium had become a mysterious yet intriguing substance widely used in cosmetics, jewelry, and even in water. With the new craze surrounding radium and its "healing properties," women unwittingly took well paying jobs painting watch dials with radium in factories. Incredulously, this seemingly "safe" job would lead to deadly consequences. Radium Girls was originally produced by Playwrights of New Jersey and later produced by The Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois.

Portraying the determined and persistent Grace Fryer, Tatyana Ramlogan impressed audiences with her compelling performance. Displaying a wide range of emotions throughout the play, Ramlogan led the show with absolute grace, no pun intended. Playing Fryer's deceitful opponent and head of the U.S. Radium Corporation, Arthur Roeder, Bailey Fier successfully conveyed his character's fear, anger, and denial throughout the performance. Another illuminating performance in the show was Danny Landin as Tom Kreider, Grace Fryer's fiancé. Landin demonstrated exceptional believability in his performance. Alongside each other, Landin and Ramlogan displayed excellent chemistry and were able to play off each other's comedy to bring joy and laughter into the dramatic story. Another stand out in the cast was Cam Davis playing the news hunting Sob Sister. Davis' energy was outstanding and had the audience laughing in multiple moments throughout the show. The entire cast was triumphant in discussing this horrific topic using great maturity.

The 1920's fashion inspired costumes, some crafted completely by students, transported the characters into the story and added to the portrayal of the time period. The use of hats and dresses displayed costume designer Emma Feinstein and their crew's impressive research and attention to detail. The lighting, designed and executed by Cam Davis and crew, made the stage glow with color and set the tone of each moment in the show. The set, also student made, was simple yet effective in illustrating different locations in the production. Although some props lacked detail, the prop team (Jaiden-Alexa Reid, Kiersten Worthy and crew) created alluring props such as a floating jaw in a jar and the glowing radium products.

JP Taravella High School's production of Radium Girls leaves audience members with the feeling of empowerment because as the character Katherine Wiley states, "We do not have to accept injustice."

Naomi Sternberg
Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS
Submitted for publication to www.floridatheateronstage.com

Money makes the world go round. It's so powerful that men will do anything to keep their opulence going. The idea of wealth is so captivating it leads itself into a myriad of problems, lawsuits, and heartbreak in J.P. Taravella High School's production of "Radium Girls".

Set in 1920s New Jersey, "Radium Girls" follows the true story of female factory workers who became ill after ingesting lethal amounts of radium while using it to paint watches and dials. The show centers itself around Grace Fryer, one of the girls who becomes ill and decides to file a lawsuit against her employer, Arthur Roeder. The play shows the progression of her illness, her relationships, and her lawsuit.

Playing the scorned female factory worker Grace Fryer was Tatyana Ramlogan. Ramlogan displayed a remarkable commitment to her character and physicality, especially in regards to Grace's furthering illness. Ramlogan's emotion throughout the show and chemistry with other characters - in particular, her boyfriend Tom Kreider (Danny Landin) - was a sight to behold. The graveness of Ramlogan's storytelling was helped with the fantastic acting of Brianna De Los Santos, playing Kathryn Schaub. De Los Santos exhibited incredible range, between her fun youthful joy with the other girls and her distress and anger during all of the legal issues. She also showed amazing chemistry with Ramlogan and Yasmeen Smith (Irene) in their scenes in the factory.

The greedy factory owner and boss of Grace, Arthur Roeder, was portrayed by Bailey Fier. Fier's acting was incredible, and only got better as the play went on. They precisely showed the progression of Arthur's character and motivations throughout the entire performance and made the character come to life. Fier's chemistry with the other actors was also exemplary, in particular with Arthur's wife Diane Roeder, played by Ava Chen. Their emotion and chemistry with one another was one of the highlights of the show. Chen herself can be commended on her portrayal of Mrs. Roeder, especially in conveying the dilemma between her love for her husband and her morals.

One of the most noteworthy aspects to this performance was the versatility throughout the cast. Most of the actors played multiple roles, and each of them showed remarkable range in the way they differentiated each character. The sheer range of each actor was meritorious and needs its own shoutout. Their variety was only helped by the efforts of the crew. Costumes, led by Emma Feinstein, guided the bewildering amount of costume changes, which only helped in diversifying each character. They were also on point to the time period, which allowed the story to come to life and seem more real. Lighting, led by Cam Davis, also assisted in the storytelling in a simple yet effective way.

In a world of continuous corporate greed and disdain for the poor, J.P. Taravella's production of "Radium Girls" does the tragic story of these ill-fated factory workers justice.

Kelsey Bonner
West Boca High School
Submitted for publication to www.floridatheateronstage.com

The play Radium Girls, written by D.W. Gregory in 2000, is a very heavy show to deal with, both with the plot itself and the history of it. Following three girls who have contracted radium poisoning, it is a story about white-collar monetary greed and how women laborers in the time were made out to be liars. Performed by students at the J.P. Taravella High School, these students have done an outstanding job in portraying the emotional and tonal depth through both their performance and their technical work.

One must point to the leading lady for congratulations first and foremost, as her acting in both line delivery and physicality was amazingly well-done and just what the scene called for every time. Grace Fryer, played here by Tatyana Ramlogan, is a character who contracts radium poisoning and therefore has physical conditions that must be portrayed for the sake of the plot. Ramlogan had a limp and the second act due to her poisoning and it was fantastically consistent. Ramlogan never just walked off the stage, she kept her limp until the audience could not see her and this was fantastic to see.

Another round of applause must be given for Bailey Fier in the role of Arthur Roeder, the guilty money-hungry owner of the radium factory. Indeed, Fier's acting showed a tangible shift in emotions from the beginning to end and their delivery of lines in the final scene left no eye in the audience dry. Fier succeeded in making Arthur Roeder a character that the audience couldn't help but feel bad for, which is the mark of a great actor.

The technical aspects of the show were positively outstanding. Both the lighting design done by Cam Davis and the prop design by Jaiden-Alexa Reid were fantastically well-handled and looked amazing. The glowing clock-dial trays that illuminated Grace Fryer (played by Tatyana Ramlogan) in the final scene while the rest of the stage was dark was an absolutely shaking thing to see and was brilliant.

The costumes of the show were absolutely gorgeous, and this is owed to the show's costume designer, Emma Feinstein. Every costume was period accurate for the late 1910s and the hats were very refreshing to see. Not only did they match the costumes, they also were used in the right social cues, which is very often overlooked in modern media.

Overall, the students of J.P. Taravella had a delicate hand in painting such a marvelous show. The dedication and teamwork could be seen throughout every aspect of the performance and tech and the attention to detail was not missed. The all-around production value and obvious hard work from everybody involved resulted in a show that was positively radiant and amazing to watch.

Zoe Tibbs
Calvary Christian Academy
Submitted for publication to www.floridatheateronstage.com

Radium may be one of the most dangerous substances known to man, but it sure does make for a healthy treat. How is this possible? Just ask J.P. Taravella High School. Brimming with powerful emotion, clever symbolism, and undeniable characterization, J.P. Taravella tells us the dark history of radium with their production of "Radium Girls."

Political activist D.W. Gregory devised this award-winning play. It premiered at the Playwrights' Theatre of New Jersey in 2000 and has since illuminated theatres worldwide. Set in the roaring 20s, "Radium Girls" illustrates the gripping tale of young Grace Fryer, a victim of radiation poisoning. Through her true-to-life story, we learn what happens when injustice meets grit as she unknowingly paints her own death.

No amount of acrylic paint could illustrate the life of Grace Fryer as passionately as Tatyana Ramlogan. From her first words to her final breath, Ramlogan put on a shining performance. Her full-character embodiment, profound range of emotion, and impressive character development drove the show. Countering Ramlogan, Bailey Fier provided an excellent rendering of the conflicted Arthur Roeder. They demonstrated a clear evolution from denial to remorse. Thus, they added a much-needed layer of vulnerability to their character.

Danny Landin: Devoted fiancé, determined attorney, and friendly neighborhood dentist. Is there anything he can't do? As Tom, Landin's emotional depth and chemistry with Ramlogan were more than praiseworthy. His sweet tenderness matched the care Dr. Knef gave his patients. While they shared occasional similarities, when portraying Dr. Knef, Landin included differing qualities such as stance and voice type to separate the two. He underwent his most dramatic change through his portrayal of Raymond Berry. Energy and passion radiated from Landin as he navigated through this role. The juxtaposition between the animated Raymond Berry and Landin's other characters was undoubtedly profound, demonstrating a clear understanding of all three parts.

Of course, the Radium Girls would be unknown if it wasn't for the press. Reporting from The New York Graphic, Cam Davis hooped and hollered atop a wooden box as they played a Sob Sister. Maybe The Newark Ledger is more your pace? In such case, Mark Davis, The Reporter, has a story for you. Contrasting in style, the two bounced off each other nicely, picking up lines and finishing each other's sentences. There couldn't be a better duo.

Given the time and structure of the play, "Radium Girls" could not have been easy for the crew. The costume crew started working six months before opening. With time-appropriate clothing and handmade pieces, it's impressive what Emma Feinstein and Aasiya Vann could do. Complimenting them, Abigail Jackson and Christiane Ovalle did a great job with hair and makeup, completing a notable 20 quick changes. Although some teams underwent occasional technical difficulties, everyone pushed through until the end.

Radium was supposed to be an amazing cure. Instead, it produced an amazing play. With talented cast members, beautiful technical elements, and undying energy, J.P. Taravella's "Radium Girls" was a true work of art.

Aurora Lai
American Heritage School
Submitted for publication to www.floridatheateronstage.com

"If you do right by us, we'll do right by you," not only represents one of the opening lines of the show, but the mantra for J.P. Taravella High School's production of "Radium Girls." With multi-talented characters and one-of-a-kind set designs, the engaged audience was more than just done "right" by--they were radiant!

"The Radium Girls", a play written by D.W. Gregory, tells the tumultuous legal battle that the "Radium Girls" face as they fight for justice against America's crazed love affair for radium. As Grace Fryer attempts to move on from her work at the United States Radium Corp., where she used radium to paint the dials of watches that make them glow, the mysterious deaths of her former colleagues confronts her with the unspoken reality--is the statute of limitations the only thing on the line? Or have the company men been hiding the truth all along? This historical drama set in Orange, New Jersey, in the 1920s presents a complex story between the women working and the men leading the factory. Their legacy for more accountability and transparency paved the way for many U.S. reforms today.

Playing the courageously determined Grace Fryer, Tatyana Ramlogan brought an invigorating presence to the stage and to her character. Beginning as a complacent worker and shifting to a change-driven plaintiff throughout the Acts, her emotions were always purposeful, her stature accurate to her deteriorating health, and her chemistry with boyfriend Tom, brought to life by standout Danny Landin, was portrayed commendably. As U.S. Radium Corp. President Arthur Roeder, Bailey Fier highlighted Arthur as a money-hungry, family man with their commanding yet soft vocal inflections, whose gradual regret and eventual remorse for their treatment towards the "Radium Girls" powerfully concludes the play.

However, there's more to a trial, or show, than merely the plaintiff and the defendant. For the most part, the entire cast doubled, or even tripled, as characters, and they expertly separated one character from another throughout their performances. Although the prop movement and accents were occasionally distracting, the cast's enthusiasm was ultimately captivating. Cam Davis as the Sob Sister was an especially larger than life character--their timed updates were jovial and comedic in a light-hearted way. Yasmeen Smith was also notable with her blunt sarcasm as Irene to her caring softness as Mrs. Wiley and Mrs. Michaels that juxtaposed the distraught company men.

Props like the tiny paint brushes and the green hues emanating from the saucers added symbolic necessities. Costume designer Emma Feinstein, make-up designer Abigail Jackson, and their crews perfectly captured the 1920s period with fine touches such as the cloche hats and rosy-cheeked blush. The students of JPT's stagecraft classes laid the foundation for the upstage and downstage dialogue to build upon, which made for clever segues between scenes.

Even without radium, the audience was left positively glowing as the curtain closed on J.P. Taravella High School's production of "Radium Girls," satisfied not only with the characters' individual journeys, but also with their own.