Theater: “Eureka Day” with Jessica Hecht
The pro- versus anti-vax debate has raged hard over the past four years. So it seems only fitting that Broadway would take a stab at it.
In Jonathan Spektor’s “Eureka Day,” a children’s private school in Berkeley is suddenly shut down when it is discovered that one of the students contracts the mumps.
The closing of the school is of great concern to the school’s executive board, led by well-meaning, ever-PC Don (Bill Irwin). The board operates on a liberal, kumbaya philosophy where every opinion is considered and no insult is ever uttered.
In this vein, the board invites the children’s parents to weigh in on a Zoom call on a) when to reopen the school and b) whether or not returning students need to be vaccinations.
This leads to chaos and absolute hilarity when the instant messages—mostly off-topic, often personal and voicing various crackpot theories—are flashed on the screen during the call. If you’ve ever IM’d at the office during a meeting or been in a dogfight on Twitter, you’ve lived through this.
As for the cast, Jessica Hecht is her usual LOL-funny self as the well-meaning board member who tangles with Carina (Amber Gray), a young Latina mother who’s a newcomer. Thomas Middleditch (“Silicon Valley”) and Chelsea Yakura-Kurtz are fine as Eli and Meiko, two board members who by the way are just wrapping up a clandestine affair. Eli further complicates matters as he is a big donor to the school. Given this egalitarian board, his opinion shouldn’t count more. But does.
“Eureka Day” is short, very timely and very, very funny. And don’t even think of walking out early because this play has one of the best last lines I’ve ever heard. Currently in previews at MTC.
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