“Eureka Day”

*** I am not sure how many of you have ever been associated with a private school, but be aware that they are very different from the public schools most of us have been involved with. When I lived in Evanston, there was a private school that our next-door neighbor attended. I know that they were far more privileged than we were and their rules were much easier to live with. “Eureka Day” is a private day school that is located in Berkeley, California. The time is 2018 and it deals with things like health department rules (vaccinations), communication, respect, and fellowship.

Written by Jonathan Spector, the play includes a scene where you might miss funny lines because you are laughing so hard. In most of the play, you will be listening to the characters who make up the school “Board” speak their minds while trying to sway the others to believe what they believe. Now, one must remember that this was written prior to our having the Covid-19 virus that caused our world to go a little bit crazier than normal. This is about mumps.. which at the time caused fighting in every city in the United States.

Smoothly directed by Scott Westerman on an amazing set designed by Bob Knuth), the play in two acts ( with several smaller scenes), has a cast of six players. Five of them are involved for the majority of the 2 hours ( including one intermission), and the team leader, Don, is played by Steve McDonagh. He is a powerhouse actor who does comedy with great ease. His rubbery face and great eyes allow him to pull off almost anything. In many ways, he reminds me of Chicago legend Dale Benson.

His cohorts are Suzanne ( deftly handled by Jennifer Ruffner) who is dead set against vaccines; Eli ( Ethan Check), Meiko ( Carmen Liao); and the new parent, Carina ( played to perfection by Alexis Primus). The group adds a new parent every year to somehow keep balance with the other families and somehow keep control. When all hell breaks loose over the closing of the school until the epidemic is over. They have a scene where they are ZOOMING a meeting with the parents, and I must say, the laughter in this scene is wild and wooly. This scene is hysterical, and with all the laughter, you might find yourself missing a line or two, but you will have a blast. McDonagh is absolutely amazing as he attempts to navigate communicating with the families that have a lot to say, but as you read them, you will see that most are selfish, self-serving notes.

There are several smaller stories about these committee members that change the attitudes along the way, and as I said, there is one more performer, Kristin Weed, who is kind of a surprise at the start of the new year following this ordeal. What we learn is that while the committee’s purpose is to what is good for the school and its students, it is very difficult to get a group of people who have their own ideas and beliefs to go with the crowd!

I applaud the technical people on what they do in this small , intimate space. In addition to the creativity of the set by Knuth, the props (Randy Rozler) are absolutely fantastic. The number of books, globes, chatchkies, and items is greater than I would have anticipated. Jodi Williams , lighting and kClare McKellaston’s costumes were well done and the projections for the Zoom by Peter Boenish were hysterical and wll played with just a little opening for McDonagh to do his thing, and he did it well. The sound is a slight problem. Even with the small theater, I truly think it might serve the company to have either the actors wearing a mic ( as they do in musicals), or having some hanging from above. I wear hearing aids, and there were times, that the words could not be heard. In particular, when the laughter was great. I know there was a lady behind us who missed half of the Zoom scene.

“Eureka Day” will continue thru October 11th with performances as follows:

Thursdays     7:30 p.m.

Fridays          7:30 p.m.

Saturdays     7:30 p.m.

Sundays        3:00 p.m

September 16th and 30th- Wednesdays, matinees at 1 p.m.

On the 30th, there will also be an UNDERSTUDY performance at 6:30 p.m.

NO PERFORMANCES ON: Friday, 9/18; Friday, 10/2, and Saturday, 9/26

Tickets range from $53.40, including fees, and discounts are available for groups, students, and seniors

They are available at 847-735-8554, ext 1 or online at www.citadeltheatre.org

The Citadel Theatre is located at 300 S. Waukegan Road (West Campus Building of Lake Forest School District in Lake Forest with plenty of free parking.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Eureka Day”.