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