[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of These Shining Lives, written by Melanie Marnich, directed by Thom Babbes and produced by Crystal Yvonne Jackson at Actors Co-op through March 30.
Long before workplace safety was a twinkle in a humanist’s eye, companies were unethical. Lying about the ingredients of their products not only to the public, but to their usually underpaid workforce. In the late 1920s finding work and keeping it was tough enough if you were a man. However, if you were a woman, it was near impossible. So, when a company in the midwest offered good and very well paid work for its exclusively female crew, for many it was a prayer answered.
The company made watches, in many different styles. But, what set them apart from every other watch company in the US were the hand- painted, illuminated faces. Of course, the illumination was due to the radium in the paint and at the time radium wasn’t widely understood to be poison.
If fact, it was an additive to many everyday things. In low doses it was harmless and watch wearers were never exposed to the chemical itself. But for the women who dipped their brushes in the radium paint, after first using their lips to perfect the brushes point, it was deadly.
And of course the scientists knew. The owners of the company knew. Even their manager knew. Heartlessly encouraging them to increase their productivity. Knowing that every time they proudly handed in their sometimes hundreds of completed dials at the end of the day, they were handing him years of bad health, their disintegrating bones, crumbling teeth, their numerous cancers and, inevitably, their lives.
I don’t know about you, but I had never heard this story before. How these women were made sick and died because of the greed of men. Of course, this would hardly be the first time or the last this would happen. But this particular company actually used the artistry of these women as a means of marketing their product. The jobs were sought after and as many women became ill and had to stop working, their roles were easily filled. They were all seen by the company doctor who lied to them again and again, telling them they were well, or if they were clearly sick that it had nothing to do with their work. A conspiracy of lies then. All to sell more watches.
One of the women, a mother of twins, became very ill and sought help outside of the workplace. Eventually, her productivity declined and she was fired. So she found a doctor who would tell the truth about her radium poisoning and a lawyer willing to take her case. She sued along with several other women in her team. She won, after a humiliating and very public trial. The 15,000 dollars that was her award was the money her husband and children would use to bury her weeks after the trial concluded.
Shannon Woo, Jessica Woehler, Abigail Stewart, Allison Schlicher_ Photo by Larry Sandez.
These Shining Lives is a maddening, brutal story. But the telling of it in this beautifully written and wonderfully acted play is far from it.
We get to know this particular team of women, sitting around a table, challenging each other to make more and more dials as they are paid by the watch. Their spirit, their nerve, their ambition for an independent life. The longing for a fulfilling job working with people they admired and loved. They are inspiring, women out of time. As it turns out, quite literally out of time. Each of these phenomenal actresses turns in a brilliant, nuanced and utterly magical performance. These women could be any one of us. Our sisters, our mothers, our best friends. They created their own family together and as they grew ill it was these bonds that helped them fight back.
There’s wonderfully wrought hopefulness to These Shining Lives. Despite its grim subject matter. Or perhaps in spite of it. In the end the story is not about justice, or beating the system. How could it be when nothing could replace a person, or a quality of life.
These Shining Lives is about a group of fearless women who found each other in the most unlikely of places and who loved each other, deeply.
I should also compliment the three men in the play. One a husband and one a villainous manager/lawyer and a third wonderfully comical doctor. They were all excellent. But these dazzling women are the stars…as well they should be.
These Shining Lives is a truly wonderful production. Perfectly and ingeniously staged, directed with lightness and purpose and grace. Everything flawlessly crafted and balanced and just enough to help the actors capture moments of pure joy and sadness, bringing These Shining Lives fully into ours. Bravo Actors Co-op!!!
Where:
1760 N Gower St, Los Angeles, CA 90028
When:
February 21 – March 30
Fridays and Saturdays 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:30 pm
Additional Saturday Matinees March 1 and March 15 at 2:30pm
Tickets:
These Shining Lives Cast
The cast features the talents of John Colella (Mr. Reed/Dr. Dalitsch/Judge), Isaac Jay (Tom Donohue), Michael Kachingwe (Company Doctor, Dr. Rountree/Radio Announcer/Leonard Grossman/Reporter), Allison Schlicher (Pearl), Abigail Stewart(Catherine Donohue), Jessica Woehler (Charlotte), and Shannon Woo (Frances).
The Team
The production team includes the talents of Thom Babbes (Director), Crystal Yvonne Jackson (Producer), Chloe Babbes (Technical Director), Toni Deaver (Apprentice Producer), Julia Hibner (Stage Manager), Nikki Alday (Asst. Stage Manager), Joel Daavid (Set Designer), Jeffrey Schoenberg (Costume Designer), Derrick McDaniel (Lighting Designer), David Marling (Sound Designer), Nick Santiago (Projection Designer), Judi Lewin (Hair/Wig/Makeup), Kevin Williams (Prop Designer), and Jessica Woehler (PR Director).