SPORTS WRAP
A history lesson can be entertaining when presented by the Owatonna High School Theater Department. Radium Girls opens on Thursday, Nov. 5 and runs two weekends at the Wenger Performing Arts Center.
Senior L McColley says, “It’s about the dial painters – they worked in World War II – who were poisoned. They’re suing the U.S. Radium Company for their medical bills to try and get some compensation for the harm that was caused to them.”
Radium was used due to its glow-in-the-dark quality. Its harm to humans was not initially realized.
McColley plays two roles. “I like that Markley (the company’s lawyer) is evil. I like to play the bad guy. It’s fun. (Dr.) Von Sochocky, I get to do an accent.”
Senior Justice Moots plays the lead character, Grace Fryer. “Watching her lose all of her things that she hoped for. She really wanted a family. One of the things with radium is it makes you lose your ability to have children. You can see how she starts to not recognize herself in a couple of scenes.”
Lane Webber, OHS senior, plays the plant manager, Arthur Roeder. “He’s sort of to blame for the poisoning of all the girls from the radium because he was negligent to the harm that the radium had to all of them. His story is his fall of depravity and how he goes from success to being in legal trouble.”
Senior Jaelyn Otte takes on Sob Sister. “What they used to describe women who would write newspapers and be dramatic with it. I would classify that as one of the more comedic roles of the show.”
She also plays Mrs. Fryer, Grace’s mother. “A lot of her scenes are heavy hitters, more the sad side.”
McColley and Otte have been around theater their whole lives with family connections to Little Theater of Owatonna. McColley’s dad performed and she has been in multiple shows in addition performing throughout her high school career. “I really like the people. I found a lot of different communities between community theater and the high school theater,” she said.
Otte’s aunt plays piano and has directed with LTO. “Growing up seeing how she runs it. Being little running around the stage, kind of always been a part of my life,” she said.
Webber looked up to theater students as a freshman, literally, while playing piano in the pit. “I fell in love with being on stage and seeing how much fun all the actors had. I realized that would be a great opportunity for me to not only expand my skills as a musician, skills as a performer, but as a person. You build so many great friendships,” said Webber.
His first show was Mamma Mia, as an ensemble member. “(Music) is just very ingrained in my life. It’s become one of my biggest passions and my drive for lots of the things that I do in my life,” he said. Webber also plays viola and sings in the choir.
Moots joined theater when she was about 12. “I would always watch my friends do the middle school shows and (thought) that looks really fun. And then I auditioned and I was so nervous. And I had such a blast. It was so amazing.”
Opening night brings emotions points out Otte, “As the years have gone by, this being my fourth year, the nerves have definitely started to calm down a little though the excitement is still through the roof. I’m lucky enough to have the friends I’ve had in every single show with me.
“Being in theater in general has helped me become a better person. It definitely helped me with public speaking and just talking to people in general. I wouldn’t have as many leadership positions as I do now if it weren’t for theater,” states Otte.
Moots encourages people to get a ticket. “We get to show everybody how much hard work we’ve put into it. The show is very beautiful. I’ve fallen so much in love with it,” said Moots.
Show times for Radium Girls are 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5; Friday, Nov. 6; Saturday, Nov. 7; Friday, Nov. 13; and Saturday, Nov. 14; plus 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8. Tickets are available through GoBound at Owatonnaactivities.com.
OHS presents Frozen as its winter musical. Auditions are in mid-November. I can’t wait for a chance to chat with students and see how the show turns out.
Walking man
I know I have a new hip. I have seen the x-ray. That and the pain and swelling of the initial stages of recovery. Obviously, any other awareness of the procedure is thankfully not part of my memory.
I do recall the pinprick for the spinal block and the clicking of the positioner device as my legs were manipulated. I went to sleep thinking I was turning into a Transformer.
My next thought was, “What just happened” as I was being wheeled into the recovery unit after Friday’s total hip arthroplasty (replacement).
I had no feeling from the waist down, an odd and uncomfortable sensation. A while later I was flapping my feet like I was a two-year-old who had just discovered he has legs, according to nurse Courtney.
I got to know her over the next several hours. She is a world traveler who worked in hospitals in New York during COVID-19 and grew up in “Jersey” just down the street from Bruce Springsteen. She told me the best way to travel is on airplanes with showers, which I didn’t know existed.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing the first hours after surgery. Low blood pressure left me dizzy and down for the count until my fluid level improved. By late Saturday morning I was working with the physical therapist on using a walker, climbing stairs, and getting into and out of a car and bed.
At one point it appeared I might have to spend a second night. But I escaped from the hospital by late Saturday afternoon and talked my wife into taking me on a couple of half-mile walks. I performed my required exercises while sitting in my recliner watching the Vikings’ game on Sunday, while working in several more walks.
The doctor was more than a bit surprised that I ran a trail 5K the day before surgery on my arthritic, bone-on-bone hip. My care team was fabulous. The number of people who reached out through Facebook and texting is very appreciated. Thank you all.
My hope is to be on-the-job for the Huskies’ football playoff game on Saturday night. Just give me a little extra time to climb the bleachers.
OwatonnaHuskies.com play-by-play
Saturday, Oct. 31:
OHS football, section playoffs, 7 p.m. (simulcast on 1170AM/106.3FM)
