Troupe 0817’s production of “These Shining Lives” provided an excellent portrayal of a significant historical figure, Catherine Donohue, with outstanding acting by female leads.

The play features the story of the women who suffered radium poisoning at Radium Dial Company in the 1930s, and sought to make the company accountable for their negligence. The main complainant of the lawsuit was Catherine Donohue, played by senior Elizabeth Doney. Donohue had support by fellow employees Pearl Payne, played by sophomore Logan Franke, Charlotte Purcell, played by junior Maren Scharf and Frances O’Connoll, played by senior Carolina Santigosa.

The play had a very strong opening, led by Doney with clear defining characteristics of what the play would be presenting, in addition to setting an appropriate tone for the rest of the production.

The actors and actresses continuously conveyed raw emotions, in the form of a considerably blunt screenplay, with appropriate uses of silence contrasted with dramatic speech.

A highlight for the male leading role of the play, Tom Donohue, husband of Catherine Donohue played by senior Zackary Simmons was most definitely that in which he confronted Radium Dial Company manager, Rufus Reed played by junior Zachary Robinson. This scene painted the impact the circumstances of the lawsuit were having on Caroline Donohue’s whole life, not just her health alone.

The work of supporting actresses Franke, Scharf and Santigosa played crucial roles in developing the story of what Doney lead, by not only presenting the nature of females during the time, but also enforcing the severity of the situation taking place on stage.

However, the play did see fault in their attempted musical elements with a trio that came on stage between scenes in the beginning parts of the play. The lyrical execution of adequate, but the execution of choreography was not up to par with the rest of the presentation of the play and was a distraction from the plot more than anything else.

“These Shining Lives” received many awards at the Florida Thespians- District Nine One Act Festival, including Best Play, Best Actress: Elizabeth Doney and Best Supporting Actress (major): Maren Scharf. These awards were clearly deserved as the overall production transcended that of a high school theatre program.