‘Train to Zakopane’ Travels Back to World War II

Sandra Miska

If you’re looking for something new in the L.A. theater world, head to the Edgemar Center for the Arts in Santa Monica for the world premiere of an original new play Train to Zakopane: A True Story of Hate and Love. Based on the experiences of Writer Henry Jaglom’s father as he crossed Poland by train in 1928, this powerful work tackles heavy issues, such as hate, love, anti-Semitism and the human condition.

To understand Train to Zakopane, one first needs to know a little history. Along with most of Europe, Poland was rife with anti-Semitism in the years leading up to World War II. According to the playwright, the train ride across Poland and the weekend stopover in the resort town Zakopane haunted his father for the rest of his life. The play’s protagonist is Semyon Sapir, a successful young Russian businessman who meets Polish Army Nurse Katia Wampusyk on a train to Warsaw. As they fall for each other, complications arise when Semyon discovers that Katia is fiercely anti-Semitic, and he has to decide whether or not to reveal that he is Jewish. 

South African Actor Mike Falkow takes on the role of Semyon while Jaglom’s youthful wife Tanna Frederick plays the role of Katia. Frederick previously received acclaim for her starring role in her husband’s 2008 film Hollywood Dreams. The supporting cast features Cathy Arden, Steve Howard, Kelly DeSarla and David Proval.

Born in London in 1938 after his parents left Russia to escape the Nazi regime, Henry Jaglom studied with Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio in New York and acted in films before becoming a director. His first play The Waiting Room debuted in 1974, but he didn’t hit his stride as a playwright until decades later, beginning with his next notable play A Safe Place in 2003.

Produced by Alexandra Guarnieri, Train to Zakopane is directed by Gary Imhoff, who previously helmed the Jaglom plays Always —But Not Forever and Just 45 Minutes from Broadway.

“Train to Zakopane: A True Story of Hate and Love” runs from Oct. 23, 2014 – June 28, 2015. For more information about the play and tickets, go here.