Everyone is Heard and Respected

Eureka Day

The recent upheaval that’s taken place in America’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention have been a cause for alarm. Notably, the appointment of anti-vaccine activist, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as the country’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, as well as the removal of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, have caused plenty of anxiety and fear. Today’s headlines report that Covid, although thankfully not at pandemic level again, continues to infect Americans. And measles has returned as a National epidemic, even resulting in several deaths in unvaccinated individuals. Health issues have returned to the forefront of the country’s conscience.

It’s September, and the year is 2018. Welcome to the beginning of a brand new school year at Eureka Day, a fictional, privately run, very liberal elementary school in California. As the curtain rises, five parents who comprise this year’s Advisory Board are discussing the concerns of another parent. It seems they have offered suggestions for changing the wording in the school’s admission form. As always, the group’s consideration is for equality, inclusion and diversity. The decision for amending the document must be by unanimous vote, as dictated in the school’s bi-laws. Eureka Day prides itself on showing respect and offering a welcome to everyone. There’s a promise that in each situation the voice of one and all—staff member, parent and student—will be heard and respected.

As the school year continues, Eureka Day’s Advisory Committee meets again, trying to come up with a document that defines the school’s policy about vaccination requirements. The controversial topic opens up a whole new can of worms. The Board eventually decides to encourage a live debate to include all interested parents. They do this by engaging in an online group chatroom Zoom call. But between the Board members jockeying to be seen and heard on camera, and the multitude of typed comments and emojis offered by the parents, the event turns into a fiasco and becomes the funniest scene in the play.

Directed with his characteristic artistry, wisdom and theatrical brilliance by Scott Westerman (director of Citadel hits like MISERY, A JUKEBOX FOR THE ALGONQUIN and THE MOUSETRAP), he brings out both the laughter and drama in Jonathan Spector’s EUREKA DAY. Comedy constantly erupts throughout the two-act play, as we watch five eager-beaver school Board members over the course of several meetings. Forever tip-toeing around sensitive situations, always striving to be politically correct and continually trying to be inclusive of everyone, these passionate characters provoke laughter with their boundless enthusiasm and courtesy. And even though the play is set just prior to the Covid Pandemic, the play’s conflict becomes especially timely, as an outbreak of mumps threatens the school population.

Eureka Day’s Advisory Board is led by Suzanne (portrayed with smooth sophistication and boundless energy by Jennifer Ruffner), a parent whose children have all attended Eureka Day over the years. She’s a passionate advocate and veteran of this institution. Suzanne understands the school’s objectives and is the epitome of the affluent, confident and overly-concerned parent. Suzanne is a model for the kind of person who enjoys wielding power over others. Suzanne knows that, with carefully chosen words, and a plate of tasty scones, she can always bulldoze everyone else in order to get her own way. Suzanne can come off as a phony, smiling broadly as she stabs her friends in the back. But the woman will never back down or ever show weakness or vulnerability—until near the end of this entertaining and enthralling play. In an emotional monologue, Suzanne opens up, showing us the sorrowful, suffering mother lying beneath the smiling facade.

Every school year Eureka Day Elementary School invites a new parent to join the other four members of the Advisory Board. This year, Carina (exquisitely portrayed by talented and likable Alexis Primus) joins the committee, since her child is a new student at the school. Carina is the only African-American member of the Advisory Board. At first she remains reticent, tactful and accommodating, but we can see that Carina’s not going to simply become another pawn for Suzanne. This woman is one smart cookie and, just when it counts the most, Carina finds her voice and makes her views known. When Suzanne and Carina finally face off near the end of the play, we learn a lot more about both women that we didn’t know before.

The other three parent advisors include Meiko (talented Citadel newcomer, Carmen Liao), as a single, sassy, Asian-American mother of a little girl; Eli (handsome and talented Chicago actor, Ethan Check), as an exuberant stay-at-home dad of a little boy who enjoys play dates with Meiko’s daughter; and Don (played with finesse and superb comic agility by gifted actor—and a veteran of almost every Chicago Theatre—Steve McDonagh), as the sensitive, caring and sometimes rattled Principal of Eureka Day. As head administrator, Don valiantly tries to be all things to all people, and therein lies the humor. Kristin Weed also has a cameo role as Winter, another new parent and member of the Advisory Board. Both as individual characters and as a supportive ensemble, this cast of talented and experienced actors is truly magnificent and make this production soar.

The play primarily takes place in the realistic-looking and handsomely detailed library of Eureka Day School. Bob Knuth’s meticulous scenic design is terrific. The large classroom sports art work, posters, child-size tables and chairs and wooden bookcases filled with an array of children’s books, thanks to the carefully chosen properties and set dressing by Randy Rozler. Everything is simply spot-on perfect. A special shoutout goes to two other talented designers. Projections engineer Peter Boenish, assisted by Nathan Zarkowsky, have created the moving typed text messages and emojis projected on a large, overhead screen. They allow the audience in on the hilarious Zoom call between the parents and the Advisory Board. And kudos to Costume Designer kClare McKellaston for their stylish, contemporary wardrobe that further defines each of the characters. With every costume change theatergoers are reminded that time has passed. The theatre’s obligatory speech about silencing cell phones, providing financial support and announcing upcoming productions is cleverly disguised as an announcement over the school’s intercom. And the school song, heard at the beginning of the play, sets the scene and is nicely performed by a recorded chorus of young voices.

Jonathan Spector’s hilarious and thought-provoking EUREKA DAY feels as timely as if it had been written yesterday. With the current controversy raging in America over the shocking new medical advice and regulations placed upon immunization, Spector’s comedy hits home hard. Definitely one of Citadel Theatre’s finest productions, EUREKA DAY has been staged and guided by talented Scott Westerman. The play features a gifted cast, all of whom work well together, like the gears of a finely oiled machine. Each actor has their own moment to shine, but it’s in the group chats where the humor, humanity and harmonious insights come across most clearly. This is a play that will speak strongly to every educator in the audience. And, unlike the United States today, everyone is heard and respected.   

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented September 9-October 11 by Citadel Theatre Company, 300 S. Waukegan Rd., Lake Forest, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 847-735-8554, x1, or by going to www.citadeltheatre.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.