Booked & Scene

Eureka Day is one of those shows that somehow manages to be laugh-out-loud funny while also making you deeply uncomfortable in the best possible way. Set at a progressive private school, the show follows a committee of parents and administrators trying to navigate a public health crisis while ensuring every voice is heard. What follows is complete and utter chaos. Directed by Margot Bordelon, this production is sharp, hilarious, timely, and one of the strongest productions I’ve seen this year and in years at The Huntington.

Honor Roll of Hilarity

This show is truly an ensemble piece, and wow wow wow, does every single person pull their weight in making this production soar. Everyone gets standout moments. Everyone gets their chance to shine. And somehow no one ever overshadows anyone else.

Nancy Lemenager as Suzanne was a riot. There’s a point where being so wildly politically correct starts to chip away at your identity and humanity until you become almost a caricature of what you’re trying to be, and Nancy’s interpretation of Suzanne captures that perfectly. As someone who spent my entire childhood in private prep school environments, Nancy brings this type of committee parent to life with effortless ease. Every choice felt painfully familiar in the funniest possible way.

Ken Cheeseman as Don was hysterical. He perfectly embodied a principal trying to bring everyone together, make sure every voice is heard, and keep the peace while becoming increasingly frustrated as every situation continues to spiral further and further out of control. The online meeting scene was an absolute knockout, and his work during the whiteboard scene had me cackling.

Eunice Woods as Carina was an absolute standout. From the opening scene to the final lights down, she was phenomenal. She moved effortlessly between laugh-out-loud comedy and some of the show’s more tender and difficult moments. Watching her navigate being a new parent on this committee while wrestling with everything happening around her was fascinating to watch. Her chemistry with Nancy Lemenager was fantastic, and the push and pull for power between Carina and Suzanne throughout the show created some of the production’s most compelling moments.

Sasha Diamond as Meiko was hilariousl. She brought something special to every scene she was in and had wonderful chemistry with the entire cast, particularly Japhet Balaban. The two of them share several scenes together, and they were some of my favorites in the show.

Japhet Balaban as Eli rounds out the ensemble, and his arc is one of the most interesting in the piece. It’s funny, wild, frustrating, heartbreaking, and surprisingly moving all at the same time. Watching his perspective evolve throughout the show only adds to the nuance that makes Eureka Day so effective.

Teacher’s Pet

This show worked for me in just about every way possible and serves as a reminder of what great direction can do to elevate a piece and allow everyone to shine.

Margot Bordelon directs this show so thoughtfully. From the staging to the character interactions to the way the show’s bigger conversations are handled, everything feels intentional. The pacing moves beautifully, the comedy lands, and even the more difficult conversations never feel heavy-handed. It all works.

I also have to give a huge shoutout to Scenic Designer Luciana Stecconi. The murals surrounding the library were absolutely breathtaking. From the moment you walk into the theater, the set pulls you into the world of Eureka Day School and makes you feel like you’ve been invited into this community before a single line is spoken.

Notes from the Suggestion Box

There honestly wasn’t much that didn’t work for me, but if I’m being a little nitpicky (and I mean y’all read these reviews because I’m a critic), here are a couple things that stand out.

The hospital scene read more like an airport waiting area than a hospital waiting room. I also wished the lighting on the rest of the stage had been dimmed a bit more so we could feel more fully immersed in that specific environment.

The other issue came during the online meeting scene. The chat projections were occasionally moving just a little too fast for me to keep up with. And I say that as someone who is a pretty fast reader. Between the chaos happening on stage, the chaos happening on the screen, and the chaos of the dialogue itself, there were moments where I felt like I might have missed a joke or two. Slowing it down ever so slightly would have made it easier to take in all the brilliance happening at once.

Final Report Card

This is hands down the best show I’ve seen at The Huntington in years.

The 100 minutes absolutely fly by. The balance between laugh-out-loud humor and those quieter moments where you can feel the audience collectively realizing the weight of what’s being discussed is incredible. None of the humor feels forced, cringey, or over-the-top. Every joke earns its laugh.

The set is incredible. The ensemble is sublime. The direction is superb.

Simply put, Eureka Day works.

Race to see this show before school closes on June 28.

📸: Liza Voll