‘Eureka Day’ Review: Pasadena Playhouse’s Production of the Tony-Winning School-Vax Comedy Provides Peals of Laughter

Jonathan Spector’s Tony-winning comedy "Eureka Day," now running at the Pasadena Playhouse, draws its humor not from avoiding current events but from cleverly framing them in the recent past. Set in the late 2010s, the play follows a progressive private school in Berkeley as it contends with a mumps outbreak—a scenario that remains strikingly relevant. By placing the action several years back, the production creates a vital buffer from today’s polarized discourse, letting audiences engage with the material more openly. This temporal shift functions as a kind of comedic vaccine, making the satire both pointed and palatable.

The conflict unfolds almost entirely during school board meetings, where a health emergency exposes deep fractures within a community of like-minded liberals. Unlike many contemporary narratives, the division isn’t drawn along conventional political lines. Instead, the play insightfully recalls that vaccine skepticism has historical roots on the left as well as the right. The humor emerges from watching a group committed to consensus and kindness unravel under pressure, turning into what one critic described as “a masterclass in polite chaos.” This internal collapse reveals how quickly shared values can disintegrate when core beliefs are challenged.

An excellent ensemble cast brings the five central characters to life with nuance and balance. Rick Harmon portrays Don, the board’s process-obsessed facilitator, embodying a familiar type of well-meaning but ineffective leadership. The three women—Suzanne (Mia Barron), Carina (Cherise Boothe), and Meiko (Camille Chen)—each navigate the rising tension with distinct personalities and breaking points. Carina, a Black lesbian and the newest board member, often serves as the audience’s pragmatic anchor, while Suzanne’s veneer of politeness eventually shatters. Meiko’s quiet demeanor makes her eventual outburst particularly impactful. A brief but memorable cameo—best experienced unspoiled—adds to the dynamic.

Early scenes deftly establish the group’s dynamic through debates over seemingly minor issues, such as the precise wording of inclusivity forms, offering a warm yet sharp satire of progressive culture. The central crisis arrives with the mumps outbreak, triggering a brilliantly staged online town hall where an overhead screen displays a live stream of increasingly unhinged parent comments. This sequence generates roaring laughter not from the actors’ delivery but from the horrifyingly authentic chaos of digital groupthink. As one theater scholar noted, “Spector uses the chat box not as a gimmick but as a mirror to our own polarized conversations.”

While the play doesn’t surpass the comedic peak of the town hall scene, it smoothly transitions into more reflective territory without losing its wit. A monologue from the primary vaccine skeptic offers a nuanced, humanizing perspective, reminding viewers that opposing views often stem from deeply held convictions. Some character arcs, such as those of Eli (Nate Corddry), the school’s tech consultant, and Meiko, feel slightly abbreviated in the later acts. Still, under Teddy Bergman’s skillful direction, the production remains compelling and cohesive. Spector’s dialogue is consistently sharp, and a revised, pandemic-aware ending lends additional resonance. For audiences weary of cynicism, "Eureka Day" presents a refreshing portrait of flawed people striving to do good—a blend of intelligent humor and genuine heart that feels both timely and timeless.

The Pasadena Playhouse, a historic Southern California venue known for its role in developing significant American theater, hosts "Eureka Day" through October 5. Ticket information is available on the theater’s official website. Its intimate auditorium proves an ideal space for this character-rich, conversation-driven comedy.