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Polk County News 2A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • November 8, 2017 WOU to perform ‘Radium Girls’ By Emily Mentzer The Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — “Radi- um Girls” takes the audience on a historic journey ripe with facts, sprinkled with humor and warmth, re- counting the story about women who worked for the U.S. Radium Corporation. Western Oregon Universi- ty’s Theatre and Dance De- partment will present the play starting Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Rice Auditori- um. The story starts in the early 1900s, with a group of young women — some as young as 16 — painting watch dials with Radium so the numbers will glow in the dark. “It was for the soldiers during World War I,” said Mindy Mawhirter, who plays Kathryn. “So it was this great invention that was doing re- ally great things, and then it also happened to kill you.” The girls were trained to tip the brushes — that still held the Radium paint — into their mouths to get a good point on the ends. While they tried to use a dif- ferent, safer method — using a cloth to wipe the brushes — the workers were told to go back to the old way, using their mouths, to save on paint costs and pre- serve the brushes. “They had us switch,” said Andi Moring, who plays Grace. “It was wasting too much paint, so we had to start doing it in the mouth again.” The play’s story is told over a span of decades as Grace, Kathryn and other girls suffer the conse- quences of the company’s actions and policies. “We start noticing our EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer Western Oregon University’s Theatre and Dance Department will perform “Radium Girls” Thursday through Sunday and Nov. 15-18. friends are dying,” Moring said. “And we’re getting sick- er.” “We’re putting the radium paint in our mouth, so we have radiation poisoning in our jaws,” Mawhirter said. “That is what the story is about.” “It’s about how compa- nies were able to take ad- vantage of their workers and kind of sweep things under the rug,” Moring added. The show is more than the account of the first work-related injury case in the country. It illustrates how science is constantly changing. Radium “is a miracle drug,” Mawhirter said. “It’s the cure for cancer. Like, how could it be dangerous if it’s curing cancer? … It’s an interesting show, and it’s rel- evant. There’s more to be learned.” The play also shows how different people handle dif- ferent things, even if they come from similar back- grounds, Mawhirter said. “We’re both dial painters at the beginning,” she said. “We’re both in similar situa- tions, same age, all that stuff, but faced with the same situation, we both react very differently.” Radiation poisoning and the ensuing legal battle with the U.S. Radium Corpora- tion makes Grace stronger, while defeating Kathryn. “I start the show being very — I don’t want to say complacent — but kind of complacent,” Moring said of her character. “I just do what I’m told. All my life, I’ve done what other people have told me to do, and it led to me getting sick. I gain strength through my sick- ness by being able to stand up for myself and take on the world, even though I’m Radium Girls What: Western Oregon University presents “Radium Girls,” by D.W. Gregory. When: Thursday through Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 15 through 18, 7:30 p.m. A matinee will be at noon on Sunday. Where: WOU’s Rice Auditorium. Admission: General, $14; students with ID, $8; seniors, $10. For more information: wou.edu. very sick.” Kathryn is the opposite, Mawhirter said. “She starts out super strong and happy, and her sickness defeats her,” she said. “She doesn’t have as much internal strength as she likes to think she does. Grace grows every time she’s attacked, and Kathryn gets smaller and smaller.” The play is directed by Michael Phillips, with cos- tumes designed by special guest artist Jenny Amper- sand, a theatrical designer who works primarily with the Portland theater com- munity. Visit our website FREE gift bags to the first 50 shoppers! Shop for festive home decorations, floral arrangements, blooming & green plants, Christmas tree ornaments, cards, candy, gifts and more! Prize drawings and Refreshments! www.polkio.com • 20 pages of valuable SEASONAL information 4 times a year: Sept., Dec., March & June • Published to over 12,800 homes in the Itemizer-Observer • Available online • Additional copies distributed through the OSU Ext. office & PSWC Dist. office POLK COUNTY A joint effort between OSU Extension Service and Polk Soil & Water Conservation District. Printed by the Full page (10”x10.292”) ....................$375 1/2 page (Horiz 10”x5.083”)..............$200 1/2 page (Vertical 4.917”x10.292”) ...$200 1/4 page (4.917”x5.083”) ..................$110 1/8 page (4.917”x2.5”) ........................$60 All ads include FULL COLOR Place your ad in the Winter Edition by calling Heidi x115, Rachel x110 or Karen x118 at 503-623-2373 DEADLINE: Nov. 17 PUBLISHES: Dec. 13