Glamies Review: 'Radium Girls' At St. Paul VI Catholic High School

By Grace Armstrong of Potomac Falls High School

Under the sickly green glow of a clock, time itself pulses on stage, each tick a warning that time is running out. With outstanding technicality and depth of performance, St. Paul VI Catholic High School's production of "Radium Girls" was jaw-dropping.

Originally published in 2000, D.W. Gregory’s “Radium Girls” is a poignant rendition of a true story from the 1920s: Amidst the backdrop of World War I, hundreds of school-aged girls worked for the U.S. Radium Corporation to paint watch dials, pointing their brushes with their lips and thus unknowingly dooming themselves to an agonizing death by radium poisoning.

Gregory’s dramatic adaptation follows one of these “radium girls,” Grace Fryer, as she fights to secure justice for herself, her friends, and all of the other girls who suffered and died at the hands of the U.S. Radium Corp, headed by Arthur Roeder. The story brings equal parts humor and heartache to the stage.

In their interpretation of Gregory’s play, the Paul VI cast and crew put on a highly intentional and emotionally layered performance. In its very first moments, the show establishes a tone of tension and looming tragedy with a giant robotic clock built and designed by James Skees, Lexy Said, and Ian Pilande hanging center stage.

The Paul VI cast delivers performances filled with nuance, rendering no character two-dimensional. Lead Gabbi Burgos perfectly embodies the initial quiet maturity of Grace Fryer, making Grace seem wise beyond her years. Burgos then seamlessly navigates Grace’s character arc as she becomes an indefatigable fighter for women despite her declining health. In Act 2, Burgos manages to walk with a cane and a limp while simultaneously portraying Grace as stronger than ever.

Opposite Burgos is another lead actor, Cameron Herrera, playing Arthur Roeder. Herrera confidently portrays the duality of a businessman with a conscience, always exuding formality while also being transparent about his internal struggles as his morality is increasingly challenged.

Alongside Grace is her boyfriend, Tom Kreider, played by Nico Flores. The couple’s chemistry is undeniable and adds warmth and authenticity to the storyline, offering brief moments of brightness to a grim narrative. Playing Kathryn Schaub, another of Grace’s steadfast companions, Maddie Bradford expertly balances humor with vulnerability and resilience.

The girls’ radium poisoning would not have been nearly as believable without the phenomenal work by Nina Baker, Francesca Leiva, and the rest of the hair and makeup team. As the story progresses, Grace and Kathryn in particular can be seen slowly dying — purple bruises blossom on their jaws, their eyes bags grow, and, through the use of liquid latex prosthetics, their decaying jaws become prominent.

The stage crew, led by Keira Aufiero, maintains the flow of the show, executing swift transitions and going so far as to fix a crooked painting on set. Additionally, costumes by Olivia Unverzagt and Katherine Heflin ground the story in its historical setting while subtly amplifying the stakes. The radium girls enter the play in bright, hopeful dresses that glow with the same optimism that once fueled their work, but as their situation grows darker, so do their wardrobes. Furthermore, Marie Curie's stark black ensemble cleverly symbolizes the dangers of radium before they are revealed.

Paul VI's "Radium Girls" serves as a near-flawless reminder of the power of women and the costs of corporate greed. By the end, the audience is not just watching history, but feeling its weight. Viewers are left with tears in their eyes and a question in their hearts: when confronted with injustice, will they choose the comfort of ignorance or the justice of truth?