Told that the luminescent paint they used was safe to handle, the Radium Girls did not take precautions.  Instructed to use their mouths to point the brushes, making the fine lines of their painted watches, the girls ingested deadly amounts of radium. The girls were often called "Ghost Girls" because of the radium dust that clung to their hair, clothes, and shoes—paid very well, up to twenty dollars a week, some girls earning more than their fathers.

The girls soon succumbed to the deadly poison, suffering from ulcers of the mouth that bled and were full of pus. These ulcers led to the removal of the jaw and mouth. Doctors were puzzled and determined syphilis as the cause.

This play is the story of Grace Fryer, a worker at USRC's plant in Orange, N.J., and her two-year search for a lawyer willing to take on the corporate giant.

 

It has been my pleasure directing this talented group of students. It was terrific welcoming so many new faces!

 

We would love you to stay after intermission to enjoy a brief showcase of some of Perry Theatre Companies monologues and musical selections.

 

Thank you and enjoy the show.