Fossil Ridge High School’s fall production, Radium Girls, had its opening night for the public Thursday, November 16. Written by D.W. Gregory, Radium Girls tells a story often overlooked by history books about young women working for the U.S. Radium Company in 1920s New Jersey. Women in the factory spent entire days inside painting watch faces, and many eventually grew seriously ill and died. Their exposure increased when they were instructed to place their brushes in their mouths to make a fine point, and even used the glowing paint on their nails and faces. In Fossil’s version of this play, the main character Grace works to fight the U.S. Radium Company for compensation after her and her friends become deathly sick. Abby Meyer, who plays Grace Fryer, said that she loves this play because, “It’s like a hero story, because these women could’ve just taken money from the company and died quietly, but they put up a fight and they changed history.”

With rehearsals every day after school, the Radium Girls cast has been working since the beginning of October to put together their production. Along with the actors, Fossil theatre organizes a multitude of crews to make the show shine. Marketing, lighting, sound, costumes, set, props, and projections all work behind the scenes to make the show look good and run smoothly. This year’s production features a slightly new effect of a flash of white and green light and the sound of an X-Ray machine at the end of each scene.

Before the opening night performance, Meyer, a senior, said that she was “really excited to see how the audience takes [the play] because it’s one of my favorite stories from history, and so few people actually know about it.” Meyer stated that Radium Girls “has been the most amazing learning experience I’ve ever had as an actor. And I’m so grateful to be able to work with so many talented and wonderfully passionate people.”

Though the show started nearly ten minutes late, and minor sound glitches occurred occasionally, the audience took well to it. Nela Mohan, a senior, stated, “I like the emotional connections to the characters because we get to see their lives and create our own personal connection with them.” Elizabeth Choquette thoroughly enjoyed the suspense to the plot, which helped move the play swiftly along.

A key element to the impact of Radium Girls is its historical significance. The play includes students acting as journalists reporting on the initial rumors about the potential of radiation poisoning and the trial Grace Fryer took on. To add to the story, crew members Deionus Bauer and Cole Shortridge created old newspaper clippings and letters modeled after real ones from the 1920s. Not only does Radium Girls teach a hidden aspect of America’s history, but the cast is able to give humanity to their characters and leave a great impression on the audience.

Radium Girls will be showing at Fossil two more times, both at 7:00 PM, on Friday, November 17 and Saturday, November 18. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.