★★★★☆

Following it’s US premiere in 2018, 2022 sees the European premiere of Jonathan Spector’s new comedy ‘Eureka Day’ at The Old Vic. Starring Hollywood and TV star, Helen Hunt in her West End debut, this is a timely comedy about conspiracies, misinformation, and the considers how to reach a consensus when opposing views are so strongly held.

The Eureka Day School is a private school in Berkeley, California. It is a bastion of liberal left views, founded by a group of parents who wanted to ensure less government control over the way their children were educated. We open with a meeting of the executive committee consisting of both staff and parents. Suzanne (Helen Hunt) has had children at the school for many years, and, as it soon becomes apparent, holds much of the power in the group. This school is at the centre of her life and beliefs. Don (Mark McKinney) is the head of the school. Eli (Ben Schunetzer) is the full-time father of a young boy and is worried about offending others and leaving them out. May (Kirsten Foster) has a daughter in the school and spends most of her time at the meetings, sitting at the side, knitting. Finally there is Carina (Susan Kelechi Watson) a new parent who has removed her children from the public school system due to concerns over provision for their needs and who has just joined the committee. 

Ben Schnetzer, Susan Kelechi Watson, Mark McKinney, Helen Hunt, and Kirsten Foster

The committee are discussing the options in a drop down box for prospective parents to select their ethnic background. Every pot shot that could be taken at the liberal left and ‘woke’ society is there. The writing is witty and observational, but it does start to tire a bit and you begin to wonder what audience this is aimed at. 

We then reach another meeting. An emergency one, called because there is an outbreak of mumps at the school and public health are forcing the school to take action to quarantine those who are not vaccinated. It soon becomes clear that this is a very large number of students. After an Act 1 ending that has to be one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a long time, we begin Act 2 and the tone changes as we see the real theme of the play being explored.

This is a debate between the anti-vax movement – led by Suzanne – and the scientific community – led by Carina. We are in a time that is unlike any time before now. Misinformation, theories, and conspiracies, can spread like wildfire through the internet. The concept of research seems to have been reduced to watching videos on YouTube. Spector’s script addresses both sides, and does a good job of reminding us that people on both sides do have their reasons (leading to a very emotional and challenging performance from Helen Hunt). Although written in 2018 we can see this debate taking on a whole new life with the debate over Covid vaccines.

Susan Kelechi Watson and Helen Hunt

The direction by Katy Rudd is engaging. With a single setting that primarily involves characters sitting on from blocks, Rudd does enough to keep the action lively and engaging. The staging of the afore mentioned end to Act 1 has to be seen to be believed. The direction is complimented by the set, designed by Rob Howell. It is bright and full of primary colours (as one would expect in a primary school) but perfectly contains and compliments the action.

What I took from this is the reminder that it can be hard to find balance in today’s society. We all have our own perspectives, and yet we all live together, all connected, be it digitally or in real life. The decisions we take for our own benefit have an impact on those around us. We all need to live together, but when we have no consensus we reach an impasse and when we do, who will give?

“If consensus was easy, everyone would do it.”

And, as Leslie Kaufman would say: 👍

Eureka Day is playing at The Old Vic until 31 October. 

https://www.oldvictheatre.com/stage/event/eureka-day

Photos © Manuel Harlan