EUREKA DAY – Written by Jonathan Spector; Directed by Christy Montour-Larson. Produced by Curious Theatre Company (Presented at 1080 Acoma Street, Denver) through October 5. Tickets unavailable.
A LOVE LETTER TO THE CAST OF EUREKA DAY: I didn’t realize until I started this that I saw the show on its last weekend in production. Even though I hope you saw it, I want to recognize the brilliance of the work that went into getting it on its feet. So, this is a Congratulations and Thanks to the people of Curious for their superlative work.
Every theatregoer in Denver knows that Curious Theatre does not do funny. Oh, their plays will have an occasional laugh line or situation that shocks you into a laugh. POTUS last year was a definite break in the routine. It must have done well for them, because here they come again with a funny funny play. But the humor in this piece is not based on jokes or schtick. It’s simple, honest, totally human foibles . . . which, since the advent of the internet, can be publicly totally ridiculous.
The administration at Eureka Day School was enlightened enough to have a parent committee to provide guidance and input to the school’s policies. BIG mistake!! One member has been there forever and believes she was the be-all and end-all of wisdom regarding school issues. When she was challenged, the proverbial feces sweetly and oh-so-politely hit the cooling device. A crisis arises when one child got the mumps which quickly spread to other kids, and this oh-so-enlightened board must decide vaxxing or not vaxxing. A tempest in a traumatic teapot, which playwright Jonathan Spector has expressed with both solemnity (because there are kids involved) and a pointed look at human nature in today’s culture (because there are adults involved). Scene 3 had you laughing through tears and dismay – my favorite emotion.
This script called for a cast that could walk that knife’s edge between too much or too little. There were a few snappy comebacks, but, for the most part, the humor was derived from the behavior of the characters, not a written joke line. While these good natured, well-meaning people do their best, it’s just that the subject is too volatile and personal for all of them.
Eric Sandvold played Don, the school administrator charged with mediating this group. He’s willing to turn some decisions over to his parent committee, but this particular issue needs a balanced approach. His attempts at mediation and his misplaced trust in the anticipated kinder nature of his students’ parents created frustration. Josh Robinson, Karen Slack, Kristina Fountaine, Rhianna DeVries, and Nadia White portrayed the parents, each one intent on bringing determination and thoughtful consideration to the problems of the school. In talent, they were all a balanced and brilliant group.
Karen’s smooth, soothing, overly thoughtful voice betrayed her method of rising to the top of the heap. “Kill them with Kindness.” But Kristina saw right through that and held her own against the onslaught of saccharine. Josh and Rhianna were playing footsie behind the scenes until a bigger crisis than when his wife returns from a trip interrupts the fun. Poor Erik was left trying to balance the needs of the school against the needs of this cantankerous group.
Director Christy Montour–Larson kept the stakes high and the atmosphere controlled. She understood that human nature provides its own comedy and pathos without being pushed.
I would have given them an 8.75 for this production. Their next show is JOB, a startling therapy session between a woman destroyed by her day-to-day job and a therapist with a back story. Back to the Guts and Glory days.