**** Highly Recommended **** Sometimes a play comes around that just resonates! Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski is one of those plays. On a dark stage, one man, using his clothing, a desk and two straight chairs, recounts a harrowing journey through the horrors of war-torn Poland. Here’s the thing that really resonated for me – Jan Karski (David Strathairn), was a real person – but the world forgot. 4 Spotlights
Incredible but true, Karski was a soldier in the Polish army sent to the front line to defend against the Germans who invaded and all but destroyed Poland. He was captured by the Russians, who turned him over to the Germans. On the way to a work camp, he escaped by jumping out of a train. He walked for days and days until he reached a place of relative safety.
When he became a member of the Polish Resistance, he was sent to the cities and towns in Poland to witness and report on the destruction and deprivation. He met with the Jewish leaders of Warsaw who led him into the ghetto to observe conditions there Disguised as a Ukrainian soldier, he witnessed thousands of Polish Jews filing off a cattle train into a Nazi death camp.
The resistance leaders decided to send him to London to report to the Polish government in exile. He made his way across Germany and France until he crossed the Pyrenees mountains into Spain. Once in London, he reported on conditions in Poland to the government. When he reported on the death camps, the Jewish leader expresses his frustration because he could do nothing about it.
Karski did get to tell Churchill’s second in command about the death camps, but was never allowed to talk to Churchill himself. Eventually, he was sent to America where he met with Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter, a Jew who couldn’t/wouldn’t believe what he was hearing. Invited to the White House, Karski told Roosevelt what he’d seen, but nothing was ever done.
After the war, Karski emigrated to the United States. He earned a doctorate from Georgetown University in 1952 and became a citizen in 1954. He taught international affairs at Georgetown for 40 years. Former President Bill Clinton was one of his students. He married Pola Nireñska, a dancer/choreographer who also fled the Nazis.
In a Q & A after the show, playwrights Clark Young and Derek Goldman talked about the reasons they decided to write this play. Goldman mentioned that there’s a statue of Karski on the Georgetown campus which he passed every day, but had no idea who the man was. When he learned about Karski’s story, he decided to write the play/
NOTE: Audience members must show proof of Vaccination (or Negative COVID-Test), either on a smartphone of a physical copy. Present a current Photo ID. Wear a mask at all times during their visit.
Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski runs through November 14th in the Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier, Chicago. Parking in CST’s designated area in the Navy Pier Garage is available at a 40% discount with validation from CST. Running time is 90 minutes no intermission. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:45 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm. Tickets range from $67-$75. FYI (312) 595-5600 or www.chicagoshakes.com.