Introducing Radium Girls - a New Direction for Middlesex Theatre

Just a week before break, amidst a flurry of assignments and tests, a group of talented Middlesex students were hard at work preparing for Radium Girls. After enduring a demanding “tech week” filled with rehearsals that lasted for hours upon hours, the cast and crew were finally ready for opening night. To further excite the community, the theater department posted a brief clip to their Instagram page, giving the audience a sneak peek about what to expect. After watching the teaser which included haunting music and unnerving gore, I was more than ready to see what was in store. 

Hustling through a large crowd of students and faculty, I finally reached my seat. Despite watching the preview, I still wasn’t completely sure about what I was about to watch–all I knew was that Radium Girls was based on a historical event. So part of me expected a complicated, intellectual, and possibly tedious show. The production began on a light-hearted note, displaying the joyful chatter of several girls. Initially, I was unsure of how the spooky teaser was related to the joyful display in front of me. However, my questions were quickly answered as the scene before me grew more somber, unfolding a series of tragic historical events. Unlike previous productions, ranging from SpongeBob the Musical to Legally Blonde, Radium Girls required actors and actresses to explore a different facet of their acting. Rather than perfecting a peppy, energetic, or comical character, students were stretched to explore darker emotions. Despite this imposing task, students rose to the occasion. From fake tears to impassioned arguments, Middlesex thespians delivered not only believable but impactful performances, ultimately making Radium Girls a success.  

What made this play unique from previous shows? Maybe the powerful performance was simply a reflection of hours upon hours of tireless work. Or maybe the unique choice to put on a play so different from previous productions played a large role. As previously mentioned, the theater department often chooses a more comical or light-hearted route. This often seems appropriate, given the ages of the actors, actresses, and audience. However, the few times a more serious piece is chosen, there often seems to be a more profound impact. While choosing such a drama may be riskier, there is also greater room for thespians to explore a wider breadth of emotion. Upon leaving the theater, the general consensus was positive. Students, likely expecting a less eventful show, were shocked by the twists and turns Radium Girls had in store. 

The theater department will be combining the trend of light productions with darker pieces with the upcoming musical this spring, Bat Boy: The Musical. This show merges both horror and comedy to communicate the story of the titular character who is discovered, lurking in a cave. 

While the success of this musical remains to be determined, the show has significant promise, with a more comical aspect for younger audiences layered on top of serious, scary, and intriguing themes. I hope that in the future, we will continue to see more productions that tap into a diverse range of genres, pushing actors and actresses to experiment with complex characters, thus fully engaging the Middlesex audience. 

Kiki Friedbauer