TOWER- The Lake Vermilion Cultural Center hosted three performances of “These Shining Lives” last weekend, transforming the small stage in the front of the former St. Mary’s Episcopal Church to a working theatrical space. A cast of four women and three men played a total of nine characters, who relayed the story of four women who painted clock and watch dials with glow-in-the-dark radium, which turned out to cause cancer and death in many of those who worked with the radioactive material.
“This play is based on a true story,” said director Mary Lou Conaway, “with documented facts. To me, that’s probably the scariest part.”
Sarah Packa, of Hibbing, played the lead character Catherine Donahue. “I love the strong characters in this show and that the playwright highlights women’s stories,” she said.
“I was amazed by the strength of these women,” Conaway said. “They were making good money for the time, working innocently for an industry where profit topped safety. Then fighting for their lives and rejected by friends and neighbors.”
“These Shining Lives” was written by Duluth native, Melanie Marnich. The play, set in the 1920s and 1930s, is the fictionized story of four women who worked for the Radium Dial Company – an actual watch factory based in Ottawa, Ill. The play showcases the danger women faced in this workplace and highlights the wider lack of concern companies had for protecting the health of their employees. The four women highlighted in the play become fast friends and support each other through the doubts, illness, and the trials. The company may have stolen their health, but they couldn’t take their spirits.
The production opened at the Lake Vermilion Cultural Center, with three shows Sept. 10-12.
But anyone who missed those performances can see the play at the Gilbert City Auditorium, 17 N. Broadway, on Sept. 22 and 23 at 7 p.m., and Sept. 24 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door.
Find out more at https://www.onthestage.tickets/stages-of-the-range-players.
The play is directed by Mary Lou Conaway, with assistant director Nina Kampf, and producer Mary McReynolds. Sets were produced by Pete Pellinen and lighting and sound was by Mason Nroll. The cast includes Sarah Packa, Tavia Melhus, Marlys Goerdt, Jamie Patterson, Sam Papin, Tom Moe, and Pete Pellinen.
Upcoming productions for Stages of the Range Players including a “War of the Worlds” dinner theater at Giants Ridge in October, and a New Year’s Eve mystery dinner at the Iron Trail Motors Event Center in December. The group is a co-op style member organization, with the cast and crew having “skin in the game” when it comes to the productions.
The performances are made possible, in part, through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council thanks to appropriations from the state Legislature’s General Fund.