Eureka Day – Serious Humor

According to The New York Times, more than 20 states have passed laws in an effort to control how race, gender, and American history are handled by schools. Books are increasingly banned. More than 56 percent of families reported vaccine hesitation. These issues were not prevalent in 2018 when Jonathan Spector wrote his prescient, modestly updated play.

Eureka Day is exceptionally funny despite a focus on festering rot in education. Only Russian Troll Farm (Sarah Gancher) – about Soviet hackers disseminating  misinformation – compares. Absurdity and human foibles override destructive ideas and acts to capture our attention eliciting laughter.

Bill Irwin (Don), Jessica Hecht (Suzanne)

Eukeka Day (school) in Berkeley, California, is upscale, private, and considers itself politically woke. Its executive board, passionate about considering every point of view, never acknowledges the impossibility of that kind of idealism. It tries. When differences are voiced, cordiality arrives on steroids.

Todd Rosenthal’s colorful, contemporary school library – peppered with inclusion reminders – physically manifests Eureka’s philosophy of positivism. Clint Ramos has so effectively attired characters, we can imagine lifestyles.

Jessica Hecht (Suzanne), Amber Gray (Carina)

Don (Bill Irwin – sublimely subtle), vacuous head of the board, calls a meeting to review “the drop down menu” of the school’s admission application. Expanded identification options include every conceivable branch of ethnicity. The term “transracial” provokes objection.

Tightly wound, founding member Suzanne (Jessica Hecht – marvelous characterization with distinctive, intermittent squeak), inadvertently profiles African American, lesbian Catrina (Amber Gray – wonderful timing), the parent representative. She’s promptly disabused and abashed. “Oh, gosh, I hope you know how much respect I have for you.”

Thomas Middleditch (Eli), Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz (Meiko)

Eli (Thomas Middleditch) who lives the kind of privileged, hip life, casually hiring a nanny he met at Burning Man*, stresses everyone should “feel seen,” an ironic term considering his affair with committee member Meiko (Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz – who does much with silence). His adored son, Tobias, is pals with her daughter, Olivia. Convenient. Scones are eaten. A passage from 13^th century poet Rumi is read aloud by Don.

When OlIvia gets the mumps causing an outbreak, Eureka closes. Don suggests that no student should be allowed to return unless he or she has had the mumps or has been vaccinated. “That’s a little intense,” Eli says. “I’d feel better if it sounded like the message was coming from the health department,” Suzanne adds. “True,” Don responds backing up. “We don’t want to be perceived as adjudicating.”  

The extent to which Eureka strives towards political correctness last year extended to a production of Peter Pan which, addressing indigenous peoples and colonialism, was set in outer space. Eli advocates a town hall meeting on ZOOM. It’s hysterical. We watch parent comments pop up (with images) on the wall behind Don as he desperately tries to keep discussion on track with a modicum of decorum.

Thomas Middleditch, Amber Gray, Bill Irwin, Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz, Jessica Hecht

“Fifteen students have it!” “Whoa!” “Some might be false positive.” “I made soup.” “Half the school is anti-vaxxers.” “Right, bring Miss Typhoid to school.” “Just answer honestly, would you rather have autism or the mumps?” “Just answer honestly, were you dropped on your head?” “Individuals have choices.” “Heidegger has a great treatise on that concept.”  

Retorts come fast and furious regressing to accusation and foul language. Don helplessly slams his laptop shut. (David Bengali, excellent projections.) Tobias lands in the hospital in an induced coma. (Don’t worry.) Everyone seems sincere, but disparity of opinion causes parents to threaten pulling their kids out of the school. Things come to a head. Ersatz settlement is never really defined. Don’t look too closely.

Director Anna D. Shapiro is masterful with pacing. Humor never fails to land. Speaking at the same time unfailingly works. Fallibility is almost poignant. Each board member carries him/herself in accordance with specific character. Use of the stage is natural. (I did catch several actors looking too often at the audience.)

Also featuring an appearance by Eboni Flowers.

I can’t imagine what it would be like watching this as a parent, but it’s so topical and otherwise relatable, everyone is entertained. Serious fun.

*Burning Man  is an annual festivity held in the Nevada dessert that celebrates creativity, collaboration, and radical self-expression.

Photos by Jeremy Daniel
Opening: Bill Irwin,Thomas Middleditch, Amber Gray, Jessica Hecht, Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz

Manhattan Theatre Club presents
Eureka Day by Jonathan Spector
Directed by Anna D. Shapiro

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre       
261 West 47^th Street