St. Francis to put on 'Radium Girls' play this weekend

On Oct. 10-12, St. Francis High School theater students will showcase their talents in the fall performance of "Radium Girls," under the direction of Brandon Lewis.

In the mid-1920s, luminous watches were trending, but the women factory workers who were painting the watch dials were poisoned and dying from their exposure to the radium in the paint. Their employers told them the paint was safe and the girls were encouraged to use their lips to "point" their brushes in order to paint with fine detail.

For fun, some women even painted their faces and nails with the luminous pain.

Based on a true story, "Radium Girls" tells of a quiet rules follower, Grace Fryer, her realization that their working conditions are unsafe, and her decision to fight for justice. Arthur Roeder, her employer, believes that the radium, recently discovered by Madame Curie to be effective in shrinking tumors, could not also be making his employees sick.

While Grace pursues the case, she is challenged not only by Mr. Roeder, but also by her family and friends who fear she will fail and there will be backlash.

Performances will be 7 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, Oct. 10-12, in the Kuhn Cultural Arts Center, 2130 W. Roosevelt Road in Wheaton.

Tickets are $10 or $8 for students and seniors.

Visit www.sfhscollegeprep.org.