The Walpole Footlighters are in the midst of preparing the second show of their 2017-2018 season, “Radium Girls” by D.W. Gregory. The powerful play, based on true events, is set in the early part of the twentieth century and centers on ideas still timely today, such as women’s equality, scientific progress and its effect on daily life, and corporate responsibility.
In 1926, radium was a miracle cure, Madame Curie an international celebrity, and luminous watches the latest rage until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story, “Radium Girls” traces the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court. Her chief adversary is her former employer, Arthur Roeder, an idealistic man who cannot bring himself to believe that the same element that shrinks tumors could have anything to do with the terrifying rash of illnesses among his employees. As the case goes on, however, Grace finds herself battling not just with the U.S. Radium Corporation, but with her own family and friends, who fear that her campaign for justice will backfire.
The cast consists of Ashley Harmon, of Hyde Park, as Grace and Mark Adams, of Norwood, plays Arthur Roeder. The rest of the cast plays numerous roles throughout the show and consists of Finley Smith, of Newton, Cynthia Small, of Medfield, Ninette Cummings, of Norwood, Shelley Wood, of Ashland, Woody Farrick, of Dorchester, Paul Campbell of Canton, Joe Rich, of Dedham, and George Motley, of Sherborn.
The show is directed by Marianne Phinney. Performances are at the Walpole Footlighters Playhouse at 2 Scout Road in East Walpole on February 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17 at 8:00 p.m. and February 11 and 18 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 and all seats are reserved. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. To purchase tickets, call the box office at (508-668-8446) or purchase online at www.footlighters.com.
This production is sponsored in part by the Walpole Cultural Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
