Radium Girls

Old Mill Theatre’s Radium Girls is a historical drama with an amazing storyline that packs a punch. It is presented with a strong ensemble cast at Old Mill Theatre.

The moving, true story of watch dial painter Grace Fryer and her colleagues from the U.S. Radium Plant, who fought for compensation after being poisoned by radium at work, is very well acted - including an impressive performance from Abbey Mc Caughan In the central role - convincingly playing a woman suffering a physical demise, but still determined to fight for her rights.

Most of the performers play multiple roles - switching between characters by making strong choices and aided with well-chosen historical costuming by Merri Ford. Lovely work from fellow workers Alexandra D’Ulisse as Irene Rudolph and Georgina Teakle as Kathryn Schaub - charting a lovely journey. Audrey Poor brings maturity to supervisor Mrs MacNeil, with Alex Comstock bringing layers to the complex role of Grace’s fiance Tom, with Daniela Barbosa lovely as legal supporter Miss Wiley.

One of the strengths of this show is that the “villains” are unusually complex and often sympathetic. Brett Hamilton plays Arthur Roeder, President of the US Radium Corporation, with depth, with Carmen Dohle excellent as his wife, inadvertently caught on the wrong side. Jason Dohle plays several varied roles with conviction - and is especially good as Von Sochoky, inventor of the radioactive paint. Solid support from Travis Koch in multiple roles. 

Colour, light and commentary is provided by newspaper reporters Alex Comstock (again) and lady reporter Ali Huefner. Characterisation throughout is vibrant and effective and we can easily place ourselves in the shoes of these people living a century ago.

Director Ellis Kinnear has designed an elegantly simple set - a factory window that serves the twenty-five scenes and multiple locales well - using the lovely back wall of the Old Mill Stage. The window provides a wonderful canvas for evocative lighting, and lovely use of colour by lighting designer John Woolrych.

A must-see for lovers of true stories and this who enjoy a strong feminist or historical drama. A moving piece of theatre.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Rosalyn Anderson