At Eureka Day School, a ‘progressive’ private school in Berkeley, California, the five parent members of the Executive Committee meet regularly to make important decisions about how the school will run. The only problem is – they are paralysed by their commitment to being respectful of each other’s views (often through gritted teeth); to being politically correct and to making decisions as a group (without doing something as potentially aggressive as taking a vote).
When a mumps outbreak occurs at the school and it must temporarily close its doors, the committee is torn down the middle by those who believe all students should be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity and the school’s re-opening, and those who are (gasp!) anti-vax.
Although the topic of an infectious disease outbreak is inherently serious, playwright Jonathan Spector gives the play a light touch, making gentle fun not only of modern parenting practices, but also having a little dig at workplace/relationship mediation-type situations where it is essential to give voice to all opinions, regardless of their worth.
Like any primary school classroom worth its salt, the set (by designer Kate Beere) is a riot of colour, complete with shelves of appropriate parent-donated books, children’s artwork covering the walls and mini chairs for the cast to perch on. Ably directed here by Craig Baldwin, the Broadway production of Eureka Day is nominated for two Tony Awards this year.
Led by Jamie Oxenbould as de facto committee chair Don, Eureka Day’s cast of five have excellent comic timing and there were chuckles aplenty from the Opening Night patrons. Particularly hilarious is a Zoom meeting held by the Committee with the wider parent community. With so much bad news in the world, it felt like we in the audience all deserved – and enjoyed – a collective laugh at ourselves.
Eureka Day
Seymour Centre
Sydney
Until 21 June, 2025
seymourcentre.com
