The Polish History Museum organizes the performances of the play Coming to See Aunt Sophie by Arthur Feinsod, to be staged in three Polish cities: Łódź, Kielce, and Warsaw between 12 and 18 May.

This two-act play, with its cast of four interpreting fifteen different characters, is set against a background of minimal set designs that underscore the dialogue of the work, and gives a chance to shine a spotlight on the person of Jan Karski (1914-2000), the famed courier of the Polish Underground. Based on actual memoirs, the play is the story of an emissary who took on his mission in the hopes of contributing to ending the Holocaust.

This production of the story of a Polish World War II hero has been in preparation for several years at the Indiana State University, and will have its world premiere on 9 and 10 May at the Here and  Now Theatre Festival  in Mannheim, Germany; it will be subsequently presented in Poland: in Łódź, Kielce, and Warsaw, as part of the celebration of the Year of Jan Karski, instituted by the Sejm of Poland, and the Karski Remembrance Days held by the Polish History Museum.

Coming to See Aunt Sophie is both the title of the work and the secret password for Karski’s final mission. Having accepted his last assignment, which involved informing the world’s leaders of the systematic extermination of Jews in the German-occupied Polish lands, Karski was making his way through Europe to reach the united States, changing his identity and life story along the way.

Arthur Feinsod, the author of Coming to See Aunt Sophie and the artistic director of the Crossroads Repertory Theatre at the Indiana State University, has been working with young actors since 2001. Aided by the director Dale McFadden, he created a play based on the heroic character of the best-known courier for the Polish Underground.

The playwright sought inspiration in a number of sources when transposing Karski’s story to the stage, aiming to form both a psychological study of a war hero, and a captivating, action-packed thriller in one. But he was concerned with more than just historical accuracy: he encourages us to follow Karski to the sources of his heroism, and reiterates the courier’s plea, imploring us to want to learn more about ourselves and about the times we live in.

The play features a quartet of young actors: Brad Venable, Josh Krause, Julie Dixon, and Alex Miller. The Polish History Museum partners in organizing the Polish performances of Arthur Feinsod’s play are: in Łódź – The Marek Edelman Dialogue Center, in Kielce – The Jan Karski Society, and in Warsaw – Museum of the History of Polish Jews. The production will be performed in Warsaw on 18 May at 17.00. 

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Karski’s birth, and the Polish Sejm has named 2014 as the year of Jan Karski. It’s also the key moment of the four-year program: Jan Karski. Unfinished Mission, carried out at the Polish History Museum under the Honorary Patronage of the President of Poland, Bronisław Komorowski.

Tickets are free, courtesy of the Polish History Museum and the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, but online reservations are required.