Playwright Jonathan Spector must have used an Ouija board when he wrote “Eureka Day,” which premiered in 2018. It was before both the dreaded COVID pandemic and non-doctor RFK Jr. came into our lives, yet there are references in Spector’s play to mandatory vaccine debates, herd mentality, autism and Tylenol.
Now at Capital Stage, “Eureka Day” gives us a glimpse into the weekly board meetings of a private elementary school in Berkeley, California. This five-member group prides itself on embracing inclusivity, social justice and representation when discussing issues. The woke word salad rhetoric and come-togetherness feel like a cheesy teambuilding exercise, with undercurrents of passive-aggressive self-righteousness.
The policy issues the board members discuss are relatively low-key until a mumps outbreak invades the school. Then the zen feel is interrupted by opposing viewpoints on mandatory vaccines among board members and parents.
Though it sounds dour, “Eureka Day” is quite amusing as we begin to recognize each board member’s unique characteristics. It also features a particularly humorous virtual meeting with parents.
It’s a five-character play (with a short appearance by a sixth). First, we have Don (Kurt Johnson), the proud cyclist and school principal who tries to cajole each board member with a soft new-age approach. Then there is Suzanne (Shannon Mahoney), who struggles to suppress her strong anti-vax opinions as both a board member and a mother — though you see them oozing out of her pores.
Next is Carin (Atim Udoffia), the newest member and only Black person on the board, who hasn’t quite figured out the group’s dynamics. Then we have Meiko (Mayette McDonald), who is not shy about her opinions but is confronted with dichotomies, and Eli (Chris Sharpe), who can be a bit of a bro mansplainer, though with some hidden deeper layers.
The cast is pitch-perfect, each actor embodying their character with hubris, humor and humanity. And Director Amy Resnick is careful to ensure the characters don’t come across as caricatures.
The set is a school library with kid-sized tables and chairs, lined with shelves of books and stuffed animals, and a banner that says “Welcome.” During the virtual meeting with parents, we only see the board members facing the laptop, but we are included in the hilarious chat room comments, which are shown on a backdrop screen.
Given the context of the play, it’s rather ironic that the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. was scheduled to present “Eureka Day” last April, but the Trump-approved board members canceled it due to “financial circumstances,” according to the New York Times.
📌 “Eureka Day” plays through Nov 16; Wednesdays to Fridays, 7 p.m., Saturdays, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays 2 p.m. 2215 J St. Capital Stage in Sacramento.
This story is part of the Solving Sacramento journalism collaborative. This story was funded by the City of Sacramento’s Arts and Creative Economy Journalism Grant to Solving Sacramento. Following our journalism code of ethics, the city had no editorial influence over this story. Our partners include California Groundbreakers, Capital Public Radio, Hmong Daily News, Outword, Russian America Media, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento News & Review and Sacramento Observer. Sign up for our “Sac Art Pulse” newsletter here.
By Patti Roberts
