Using variables with new Date() object

I have a related problem when trying to pass a variable from SWFObject to a new Date() object.

From SWFObject:

flashvars.startDate = "2010,0,10";

From SWF:
[AS]eventDate = new Date(startDate);[/AS]

Obviously this didn’t work so I thought I need to unescape the startDate variable?

From SWFObject:

flashvars.startDate = "2010%2C0%2C10";

From SWF:
[AS]eventDate = new Date(unescape(startDate));[/AS]

No go. What am I doing wrong?

This works but I’m trying to be efficient.
From SWFObject:

flashvars.startYear = "2010";
flashvars.startMonth = "0";
flashvars.startDay = "10";

From SWF:
[AS]eventDate = new Date(startYear, startMonth, startDay);[/AS]