Eureka Day

 Eureka Day
Manhattan Theatre Club
The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
January 4, 2025 

Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

Jonathan Spector’s new play, Eureka Day, is full of laughs… until you realize that the laugh is on us.  It’s easy to pick a side in a dispute or debate, but what do you do when there is no chance of resolution or compromise?  The play starts off in a simple, pleasant, and welcoming atmosphere.  When a health crisis occurs among a group of young children, that agreeable environment quickly transforms into a political hotbed.  No one is willing to bend in their belief.  Mr. Spector creates rich backstories for these characters to keep the conflict truthful.  Director Anna D. Shapiro works with a stellar cast to build the tension and shift the tone as the action progresses.  

Eureka Day is a progressive private elementary school on the east coast.  Their executive board of parent volunteers meets regularly to maintain inclusivity and provide clear communicate to members of the school community.  The main governing rule for the committee is that full consensus is needed to change any school policy.  Don (played by Bill Irwin) guides the committee through every discussion, making sure all members voice their points of view.  Because of this, committee discussions tend to be lengthy.  Suzanne (played by Jessica Hecht) welcomes the newest member to the committee, Carina (played by Amber Gray), whose son is new to the school.  The more Suzanne invites Carina to participate, the more she cuts her off.  When an outbreak of mumps runs through the school, the unvaccinated daughter of Meiko (played by Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz) becomes ill.  Meiko is romantically involved with another committee member, Eli (played by Thomas Middleditch).  Their time together allowed her daughter to unknowingly pass the illness to Eli’s son, whose vaccine was ineffective.  While the school is on temporary quarantine, the committee holds a zoom meeting to give parents of the school community a chance to discuss the situation.  All hell unexpectedly breaks loose.  A consensus on how to proceed is not possible.  Change needs to take place, yet no one is willing to budge. 

Amber Gray, Bill Irwin, & Chelsea Yakura-Kurts
Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

This cast is phenomenal, creating broad humor out of politeness hesitation, and forced considertion.  It is clear what the characters intend to say, yet they never let themselves.  The comic timing in their holding back is impeccable.  They put great effort into establishing an environment of inclusivity and respect, but it is full of nothing more than projection, assumption, and judgement.  This effectively makes the situation comical.  The laughs build to a high crescendo during the zoom meeting, then the tone abruptly shifts when the dispute hits a wall.  The humor continues as the characters speak directly, but it becomes more biting.  The way they resolve the issue is a bit of a surprise, yet what is ahead for them will prove even more challenging. 

Eureka Day is playing at Manhattan Theatre Club’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.  It has been extended through February 2.  This play offers a unique opportunity to take a focused look at ourselves.  Go see it and find out how far you’re willing to go for your convictions.  

Domenick Danza

A Shift of Opinion

 A Shift of Opinion
Theater for the New City
January 2, 2025 

Photo courtesy of A Shift of Opinion

Playwright Vadim Astrakhan pays homage to Jacob Schiff in his play A Shift of Opinion.  By telling the story of this Jewish American philanthropist, we see the powerful effect one man can have when he uses his influence and wealth to make positive change.  Director Joe John Battista gathered a strong cast to portray well known personalities from American history, all of whom were contemporaries of Jacob Schiff.  This story is relevant to our present-day politics and atmosphere of hate.  History repeats itself, yet if stories such as this are not told, we remain in the dark.

In 1903, a pogrom took place in czarist-era Russia, destroying a Jewish community and killing 49 residents.  When Jewish New York banker Jacob Schiff (played by Michael Donata) hears the news, he is outraged.  He immediately meets with his friend, President Theodore Roosevelt (played by Roger Gonzalez), who writes a letter to Russian leadership.  Unhappy with Russia’s response, Jacob meets with another friend, William Randolf Hearst (played by Michael Meth), who informs him of the impending war between Japan and Russia.  Jacob sees this as an opportunity to take down the Russian czar.  He meets again with President Roosevelt, who allows Jacob to individually fund the Japanese army, leaving the United State out of the conflict.  Japan is triumphant, yet it is not until the Russian Revolution in 1917 that the imperial government is overthrown.  In 1920, US Congressman Albert Johnson (played by Andrew Ryan Perry) pushed for strong anti-immigration legislation, prohibiting immigration from Asia and imposing quotas on the number of immigrants entering the United States from easter and southern Europe.  This had a disastrous effect on the Jewish community.  By this time, Jacob Schiff had passed away. 

Michael Donato as Jacob Schiff
Photo courtesy of A Shift of Opinion

Michael Donato solidly portrays Jacob Schiff as a determined man of high principles.  He is steadfast in his beliefs, which includes that the United States is a Zion for the Jewish people.  He did not support the development of a Jewish nation, for which his colleague, Nathan (played by Alex Notkin), tries to seek his financial support.  Towards the end of his life, Jacob changes his view on that possibility.  This “shift of opinion” is evidence of his ability to change his fervent convictions based on events in present time.

Some of the more humorous scenes are between Mark Twain (played by John Barilla) and O. Henry (played by Brian Sheppard).  These two characters voice their perspectives on Jewish culture, and freely share their opinions on Jacob Schiff’s philanthropic activities.  Mr. Sheppard is bold and daring in his physicality and characterization of O. Henry, while Mr. Borilla is witty and biting as Mark Twain.  Michael Meth’s stoic portrayal of William Randolph Hearst keeps these scenes grounded in fact, highlighting Jacob Schiff’s contribution to historic events.   

Other strong performances are delivered by Christian Neal as librarian Bella Greene, Roger Gonzalez as President Theodore Roosevelt, Andrew Ryan Perry as Jack London and Congressman Johnson, Shuhei Kinoshita as Baron Takahashi, and, with impressive presence and command, Alex Notkin as Ambassador Cassini. 

A Shift of Opinion is playing at Theater for the New City through January 5. 

Domenick Danza