Eureka Day

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Eureka Day is the rather aspirational name of the Berkeley private school where this enjoyable, thought-provoking play by Bay Area playwright Jonathan Spector is set. After winning several awards on the West Coast, it has arrived at Walkerspace in SoHo for its New York premiere in a  first-rate Colt Coeur production. We meet the school’s executive committee in the midst of their first meeting of the school year. Headmaster Don (Thomas Jay Ryan; 10 out of 12, The Amateurs) strives to keep the group’s process flowing without offending anyone. Suzanne (Tina Benko; Nantucket Sleighride, Describe the Night) is the strong-willed chair who gives lip service to the equality of group members. Brash Eli (Brian Wiles) rarely lets someone else finish a sentence lest one of his own thoughts go unspoken. Quiet Meiko (K.K. Moggie; Daphne’s Dive) usually keeps her emotions bottled up. Carina (Elizabeth Carter) is an African-American who holds the rotating position on the committee reserved for new parents. The topic under discussion at the first meeting is whether the already lengthy drop-down menu on the online admissions application needs an option for "transracial adoptee." Initially, it seems that the playwright is offering yet another satire of group dynamics and political correctness gone amok similar to that seen in “Miles for Mary” last year. However, Mr. Spector has bigger fish to fry. After being introduced to the characters’ foibles at the first meeting, we see how these play out when a crisis strikes the school — a case of the mumps. When the health authorities demand that the school prevent unvaccinated students from attending, the large number of antivaxxer parents are incensed. To mollify everyone, Don sets up a Facebook Live component at their next meeting, during which all parents can share their thoughts. Their online comments, projected on a wall, range from totally off-topic to hysterically funny to downright nasty, leading the meeting into utter chaos. After intermission, the play takes a serious turn, which I will not spoil for you. As strong feelings rise to the surface, discussions become more contentious. Will the school find a way to meet the crisis? Come and see. The play is well-written, well-acted, well-designed (set by John McDermott, costumes by Lux Haac) and well-directed (by Colt Coeur artistic director Adrienne Campbell-Holt.) It is all too rare to encounter a play that is funny, timely, fair-minded and stimulating. Unfortunately, it is scheduled to close September 21. I hope it finds further life on another New York stage. Running time: two hours including intermission.