Jack Maxwell | staff writer

What happens when a community that prides itself on tolerance is thrown into a crisis that demands anything but? Consensus becomes chaos, exposing how even the most well-intentioned ideals can fray under pressure.

“Eureka Day,” written by Jonathan Spector, explores how a community faces a public health crisis while trying to remain tolerant of others. The play premiered at the City Theatre on March 7.

“Eureka Day” takes place in an affluent private elementary school in Berkeley, California where a panel of well-intentioned parents meet regularly to see how they can better shape the school’s policies around inclusivity and harmony. However, instead of relying on a traditional general vote, these parents hold steadfast to the idea of consensus-based decision making — which is enshrined in their committee bylaws.

However, this carefully woven tapestry of community starts to fray when a sudden outbreak of mumps forces the school in to a mandatory quarantine. A whirlwind of tension and uncertainty overcomes the board. Before they reopen, they must debate a divisive question: Should they enforce mandatory vaccinations.

What follows is a sharp unspooling of their community, revealing the uncomfortable truths of privilege, misinformation and the limits of collective argument.

Dr. Amesh Adalja, a Pittsburgh-based infectious disease physician and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, was present at the post show talk. He explained that the play engages directly with contemporary debates surrounding public health and vaccine rhetoric.

“It highlights the conflict in that there are parents that have chosen not to vaccinate their children. They believe that it is their prerogative as parents … to elect not to vaccinate,” Adalja said.

The tension between individual choice and collective responsibility sits at the heart of the play’s conflict.

This controversy is embodied in the character Suzanne (Daina Michelle Griffith), who is portrayed as deeply committed to inclusivity while passionately expressing her views on vaccines — she is against them. Her character highlights a central irony of the play: The same impulse to respect all perspectives can, at times, enable the spread of harmful misinformation.

“Suzanne raises the question of whether there is any truth to these claims or not. These ideas are often introduced in ways that can take time to fully unpack and understand,”Adalja said. “I hope the play sparks meaningful dialogue and conversation about these issues, because they are not confined to the stage — they are being played out in real life, often with far greater consequences.”

Clare Drobot, artistic director of City Theatre Company, said that Pittsburgh has a robust medical community, so “Eureka Day” was a great fit.

“City [Theatre Company] has a history of producing Pittsburgh premieres and bringing contemporary productions to town that feel like they’re deeply in conversation with our community,” Drobot said in an email to The Duke.

The play was originally produced in 2018, but Drobot said that the performance is more relevant than ever.

“The play is incredibly funny and frighteningly prescient,” Drobot said. “Its path, trajectory and relevancy have just continued to grow.”

“Eureka Day” runs through March 29 at the City Theatre, located on the South Side. The performance is two hours including one 15-minute intermission. To purchase a ticket visit citytheatrecompany.org

Attendee Courtney Chaplin said the performance was both comedic and timely.

“It had some small parts of comedy but also education on what we have been living through with legislation surrounding vaccines,” Chaplin said.

Jack Maxwell can be reached at maxwellj@duq.edu