Eureka Day Explores Opinions, People, Argument

Playwright Jonathan Spector sets the story in a private day school in California, during the 2018-2019 academic year. The production’s set designer Patrick Lynch has created a richly detailed backdrop for the drama.  

We are introduced to the five members of the “executive committee” – Don (Gabriel Graetz), Suzanne (Deb Martin), Carina (Daraja Hinds), Eli (Benjamin Grills), and soft-spoken Meiko (Jihan Haddad) gathered in the school library.

Don is the pragmatic leader who gives everyone a chance to share their point of view.

Suzanne is passionately vocal about her views and refuses to compromise on anything. 

Carina is the newest member of the committee, a good-hearted woman who wants to make the right decisions for her child.

Eli is having an extramarital affair with Meiko. He earns a large income from his job at one of the big tech companies.

From the opening scene, we realize Eureka Day School is what many would describe as “woke” or politically correct. The committee members want to make sure all families are welcomed into the community. A school production of “Peter Pan” is deemed too inflammatory, so the decision is made to set it in outer space.

When several students are diagnosed with the mumps, the committee members debate whether mandatory vaccinations should be required and for who. Some of the students? All of them? How long should the school be closed?

One of the funniest and most insightful scenes is a “community-activated conversation” – a livestream discussion between the executive committee and parents. The event soon becomes a disaster as the parents engage in a vicious debate over vaccines. The chat messages are projected on a wall as the committee members react with dismay at the monster they’ve unwittingly unleashed. 

The cast, under the expert direction of Tony Estrella, work well as a finely-tuned unit.

Martin (“Twelfth Night”) is outstanding as the arrogant Suzanne, alternately well-intentioned and condescending in her treatment of Carina.

Graetz (“Hamlet”) gives a joyous comic performance as the befuddled and indecisive Don, a man incapable of putting his foot down in any situation.

The debate over the effectiveness and morality of vaccines engulfs the executive committee, which leads to a standoff regarding the school’s immunization policy. At stake is the school’s reputation and financial future. If families don’t want their children vaccinated, they might withdraw them from Eureka Day.

Don points out that they need to reach a consensus whether to change the policy or keep it the way it is. In other words, all five members have to agree. 

The point Spector is making isn’t about vaccines at all. It’s about the futility of trying to change other people’s opinions. There isn’t necessarily a “right” view or a “wrong” view on vaccines. People will believe what they want to believe.

Another point: there can’t always be a consensus. Not when human lives are at stake. People in positions of power have to be willing to make tough decisions, regardless of whose feelings are hurt.

“Eureka Day” gets a bit thin in the second act, when the basic arguments about vaccines are stated over and over again. 

But overall, this is a thoughtful and engaging production, one to make audiences think about their own viewpoints and how pointless it is to argue with others.

Eureka Day runs through Feb. 1. The Gamm Theatre. 1245 Jefferson Boulevard. Warwick, RI. Performance is 2 hours with intermission. For tickets, call 401-723-4266 or visit www.gammtheatre.org. 

Author: Joe Siegel

Joe Siegel is a regular contributing writer for WarwickPost.com. His reporting has appeared in The Sun Chronicle in Attleboro and EDGE.