Tony Homer reviews “Under Katyń” at The Bear Pit, Stratford-Upon-Avon.
The Past Is Not a Foreign Country
The prospect of an emotionally charged piece of theatre referencing the massacre of 22,000 Polish military officers and intelligentsia prisoners of war might not seem like a jolly way to spend an evening. But when the play itself manages to bring light and shade, humour, sensitivity, acting of the highest standard, even a sense of optimism, then any concerns are replaced by a feeling that you have witnessed something quite special.
The Katyń forest massacre and the denials of responsibility by the Soviets that lasted over 50 years are at the centre of Danny Masewicz’s play. It’s 1990, a house in Stratford-upon-Avon, and Stefan (Masewicz) is putting the finishing touches to his painting of a forest. His wife Zofia (Ania Bhatia) gently mocks him for the enthusiasm he has for his new hobby, whilst preparing for a visit from their daughter Julia (Lily Skinner). Why the visit? Is she pregnant? Is there a new man in her life?
Just the latter, it transpires, and here is where the play starts to draw us into the deep seated anger and resentment Stefan has for what happened back in Poland, especially as his elder brother was taken away and never seen again, presumed murdered or could he have survived?
Julia’s new man, Alyosha (Elliot Gear) is a Russian who we encounter during the interval of a performance of King Lear which he is attending with his father Grigory, a former theatre director (an avuncular and zesty Mark Spriggs) and his mother Anna (Pamela Hickson) herself a former actress. But the grand dame of Russian theatre has a melancholic side for she was imprisoned for writing a poem of dissent. And what terrible secret does Grigory hide? Can the “profound regret” offered by President Gorbachev be the catalyst for renewal and redemption in Stefan?
The painful history of secrets and lies are peeled away in dramatic fashion in the latter half of the play. And yet symbolic handshakes seem to broker peace.
This play was written by Graham Tyrer, who discovered his own Polish heritage and birth name Masewicz as a result of searching for the history of his grandfather. It is a truly an exceptional play. On opening night there was a large representation from the local Polish community, an accompanying exhibition and a speech from Maciej Korkuc, author of The Fighting Republic of Poland 1939-1945.
The past may well be a foreign country, but it is often worth a visit. Lest we forget.
Running at The Bear Pit Theatre until Saturday 15th July.
– Tony Homer
DownstageWrite 
Leave a comment