These Shining Lives

  On Wednesday, Oct. 26 through Sunday, Oct. 30, Muskingum University students presented the show These Shining Lives by Melanie Marnich under the direction of Professor of Theatre Diane Rao.

  "The play is set in 1920s and 1930s Chicago-area," said Rao. "It follows the story of four women who work in a factory painting glow-in-the-dark watch faces."

  The women use a radium compound to paint, and ingest some of the radium as they do. When the women get sick and realize the cause, they make headlines by suing the company they worked for. Eventually, they win, and worker safety laws get changed because of their case.

  "I liked that [the play tells] a historical story that most people know little about," said Rao. "That the characters can be played by college-age actors was also a very attractive element."

  In order to present the story, students on the crew constructed and painted the set and prepared the lighting under the direction of the stage manager, Tricia English, and Chair of the Communications, Media, and Theatre Department Jerry Martin. The student cast also invested much time for the production.

  "We've been rehearsing about five nights a week since mid-September," said Rao.

  During rehearsals, the actors focused on perfecting their characters.

  "I think there are some things they could relate to easily, but had a harder time thinking of a world where women working was unusual," said Rao. "Also, in a world where we're accustomed to class-action lawsuits and whistle-blowers, it probably seemed strange that the women were shunned for suing the company."

  Senior Taylor Martin offered her own interpretation of the play.

  "It is [a play about] overcoming difficulties and finding the joy in the small, everyday parts of life and even finding joy at the end of your life.," said Martin. "It's a happy story, and one that has grown close to my heart."

 Martin, who played Catherine Donahue, also provided her opinion on getting into character.

  "The most challenging part of portraying this character is understanding her as a wife and mother and trying to find some level of intensity and emotion behind having children, being married [is] difficult," said Martin. "Overall, this play is one of my favorite plays I've done. It challenges me in new ways, which I appreciate so much."

  Dr. Rao anticipated a certain impact on spectators.

 "I think audiences will be inspired by the courage of the women who fought for what they deserved and for better conditions for workers of the future," said Rao.

  Audience members also seemed intrigued by the play.

  "It was an interesting story," said sophomore Emily Cole. "I hadn't heard about radium dial before."

  After the final performance, Assistant Professor of Theatre Scott Mackenzie, from Westminster College (which has a similar campus and theatre department), offered comments and his feedback.

  Mackenzie came as a responder for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, which "identif[ies] and promote[s] quality in college-level theatre production" (Information from program).

  Two students, Senior Taylor Martin and Sophomore Jordan Estose, were selected as Irene Ryan Award winners, to attend the ACTF conference at a later date.