Radium Girls

Madame Curie was an international celebrity, and luminous watches were the latest crazeUntil the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease ...Inspired by a true story, Radium Girls traces the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter, as she fights for her day in courtHer chief adversary is her former employer, Arthur Roeder, an idealistic man who cannot bring himself to believe that the same element that shrinks tumors could have anything to do with the terrifying rash of illnesses among his employeesAs the case goes on, however, Grace finds herself battling not just with the U.S. Radium Corporation, but with her own family and friends, who fear that her campaign for justice will backfireWritten with warmth and humor, Radium Girls is a fast-moving, highly theatrical ensemble piece for 9 to 10 actors, who play more than 30 parts - friends, co-workers, lovers, relatives, attorneys, scientists, consumer advocates, and myriad interested bystandersCalled a "powerful" and "engrossing" drama by critics, Radium Girls offers a wry, unflinching look at the peculiarly American obsessions with health, wealth, and the commercialization of science.