the play is a period piece commencing in 1922 when the Radium Dial Company opened a factory in Ottawa, Illinois and closes around 1938, when the main protagonist, Catherine Donohue dies from her illness. The playwright notes that although the play is at times a docudrama, it should also be delivered with 'spirit, energy and verve' and at no time should the women be played 'as victims in any way'. Characters The play is written for a minimum of six actors, with the play suggesting actors can 'double-up' on two or more roles. The four women of the story are pitched as being in their mid-late twenties. A full character list, as per the script, is provided below. Female leads Catherine Donohue - The main protagonist. The actor is required to switch between her character in the part of the narrator and her character in the story as she succumbs to radium poisoning. Charlotte Purcell - Straight talking and tough. Although she is sharp when she first meets Catherine, they soon become good friends. Frances O'Connell - Viewed as having the moral backbone of the four women, which could suggest she is a little older. Pearl Payne - Easy-going and chatty. Likens to Catherine straight away. Male leads Tom Donohue - Catherine's husband. Feels emasculated when Catherine first gets the job, but warms up quickly to it. Fiercely protective of his wife. Mr Reed - Radium Dial Supervisor. Other named characters Dr Rowntree - Makes a brief appearance promoting the perceived value of 'Radium'. Dr Dalitsch - Doctor in Chicago who diagnoses radium poisoning. Leonard Grossman - The attorney who agrees to take the case to court. Unnamed supporting characters Company Doctor - Makes a brief appearance as the first doctor to evaluate the women. Judge - appears in the court cases. Son - Son of Catherine and Tom. Daughter - Daughter of Catherine and Tom. Reporter 1 - Reports on court case. Report 2 - Reports on court case. Radio Announcer - Advertisement for radium. Settings The majority of settings take place between the Donohue's home and the Radium Dial workroom. However, other shorter scenes take place in Doctor's rooms, the Courtroom and on the shores of Lake Michigan. The writer notes that 'all may exist minimally, perhaps more as a state of mind and imagination'. Structure and synopsis The play is made up from twenty scenes, which the