Rachel is also fielding calls on her flip phone from someone named David, who seems to be stalking her based on her tense admonishments to leave her alone. In between, though, she and priest Klaus (Bruce Nozick) strike up a friendly conversation outside the patient\u2019s room about how he was shot during war and once decked three men in a bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The play unfolds slowly like this, asking the audience to piece together what might be driving these two characters. It\u2019s a bit confusing, though, because Rachel alternates between being upset by David\u2019s calls and chummily encouraging Klaus to divulge what happened in the bar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We also see the elderly patient Krystyna (Suzanne Ford) in her imagination speaking to a psychologist (also played by Van Valin) about what she remembers of the accident, and also her past in Warsaw, Poland, during World War II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Soon, David appears (played by Elias Scoufaras), who turns out to be Rachel\u2019s rich fianc\u00e9 whom she\u2019s just dumped, for reasons that also unfold slowly, having to do with Rachel\u2019s brother and 9\/11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And finally, Nicolas (Spencer Del Carmen) \u2014 the young man who was driving the truck that hit Krystyna\u2019s car and caused her so much injury \u2014 arrives at the hospital to see her bearing flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Slowly but surely, all these character threads combine, weaving together the tragedy of 9\/11, forgiveness and what happened in Poland, Germany and Russia during World War II as it directly impacted two people \u2014 and how that affects these characters in the present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Along the way, they voice opinions on healthcare, capitalism, tyrants and war (all drawing murmurs of approval from the audience on opening night), plus history lessons about World War II. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While the play is somewhat didactic in these ways, there is also lively dialogue and humor, and the ending is meaningful and moving. The acting \u2014 directed by International City Theatre\u2019s artistic director, caryn desai \u2014 is also stellar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Van Valin makes a convincing doctor hiding a deep hurt, Scoufaras embodies financier David in a tailored suit (costumes by Kim DeShazo reinforce each character well) and Del Carmen brings a delicate sweetness to young Nicolas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nozick is warm and natural as priest Klaus, hiding an old wound while humbly brushing off the bad-ass accomplishments Rachel tries to coax out of him. And Ford is simply ethereal as the slight but elegant Krystyna, capturing through voice and expression her character\u2019s humor, wisdom and experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWarsaw\u201d is a traditional kind of drama in which character and narrative come together over the course of the play rather than up front, in ways both expected and unexpected, perhaps making its healing conclusion that much more resonant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/img.lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/05\/07105114\/warsaw-5-547868-qms8pnju-063376-NjPiC97n-1024x679.jpg\")
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