Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"...But Young and Goldman (who I remember as part of the Chicago theater community) have penned a fine work that very deftly looks both at the legacy of one remarkable man and, in so doing, at the cause of the millions who died and left behind witnesses. Many of those who pay attention to Holocaust history know of Karski, of course, and I imagine they will feel this piece well draws its breath in pain to tell his story."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...Acclaimed actor David Strathairn (“Good Night and Good Luck,” “Nomadland,” “Lincoln”) embodies the titular role of Karski, a Polish citizen who witnessed the atrocities of the Holocaust firsthand and reported them to the highest authorities — only to be met with horrific inaction by those duty-bound to protect the sanctity of human life. "
Chicago On the Aisle - Highly Recommended
"...The usual term that springs to mind after a performance like David Strathairn's solitary turn in "Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski" is tour de force. And while the phrase unquestionably applies, it falls hopelessly short. No, Strathairn's remarkably physical, one well might surmise bruising, grapple with this historical figure - a Polish Roman Catholic who became the deflected messenger of Nazi Germany's assault on the Jews - is better described as Olympian. Beyond the multiple characterizations he imbues with closely etched truth, the actor tumbles through a veritable decathlon of stage action."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended
"...And so we begin to return to the magic and community of live theatre. Chicago Shakespeare began its season with a raucous Beatle’s music infused gathering in its flagship space, but for the ever flexible Yard space across the hall, they chose to begin with a tour de force one man show that brings us back to the Holocaust. Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski is a truly remarkable story of the power of a single person, and is a lesson for all of us about perseverance in the face of history and fate."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...Forceful, gripping, and indisputably exceptional, “Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski” is a superior piece of theatre. The legendary Emmy-award-winning David Strathairn enthralls us in this one-man show where he masters the character of Jan Karski, a conscientious Catholic man who refused to bow to Nazi and anti-Semitic tyranny in his native Poland."
Chicago On Stage - Highly Recommended
"...With Young and Goldman’s lean, powerful script, Karski’s harrowing story moves at a breathtaking–near exhausting–pace, which only further highlights Strathairn’s amazing depth and energy. His journey takes us from his home in Poland across the battle lines of the Nazi blitzkrieg and Soviet invasion, into the heart of the Polish resistance, to the depths of despair and degradation in the Jewish Ghetto, to the horrors of the Death Camp, to the halls of power in London and Washington D.C."
Picture This Post - Highly Recommended
"...Karski came to the United States after the war and, perhaps in response to the willful ignorance of world leaders, taught international affairs at Georgetown University for the next 40 years. A tribute to the revered professor, REMEMBER THIS was developed at Georgetown’s Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics. Recent decades have given us Rwanda, Syria and other dehumanizing barbarism that powerbrokers failed to stop. For those willing to hear facts that still matter, REMEMBER THIS serves as Karski’s posthumous messenger."
Splash Magazine - Highly Recommended
"...Jan Karski is played by Oscar nominated actor David Strathairn, who gives a riveting performance in this solo show. Seamlessly transitioning from one character and accent to the next Strathairn paints a picture of a man who has experienced incredible tragedy, loss, inconceivable inhumanity and still was able to find a deep reserve of compassion for his fellow man. Stratharin shines in this role but what you will come away with is the impressive moral character and integrity of Jan Karski."
