Reviewed – “Slava Ukraini! (or Waiting for Elon)”

I’ve been waiting for a play about the Russo-Ukrainian War, but, up until now, I hadn’t seen or heard of anything about that conflict produced in L.A. theatre. I mean, I haven’t really seen much about the pandemic either – some traumas take time to process. But from what I read, the Russo-Ukrainian war has been going on for twelve years (with Russia committing a full-scale invasion in 2022). That’s a very long time for playwrights to weigh in. The first one I know of to do so is Keith Szarabajka, whose show Slava Ukraini! (or Waiting for Elon) is the inaugural production of new theatre company A Few Thoughts Theater Co. It’s a smart, funny, moving piece with terrific performances and plenty of insight into this awful war.

In May 2022, Ukrainian freedom fighters Vitaliy (James Morris) and Olha (Jasmine Kimiko) are holed up in an abandoned steel plant in Mariupol as Russian troops siege the area. Vitaliy is an optimist who thinks Elon Musk is going to arrive to save Ukraine, and he goes so far as to tweet at Musk to request this action. Olha is more realistic about their chances of survival, but she intends to take as many enemies with her as she can. One day they unexpectedly capture a Russian soldier, Yevgeny (Chris Reiling), who says he’s a student conscript but they believe to be a Spetznaz special operative. As troops get closer and Vitaliy and Olha are running out of time, Yevgeny attempts to manipulate them to save his own life.

Morris does a good job as the hopeful Vitaliy, still trying to be a decent person amidst the moral greyness of war. Kimiko impresses as Olha, a tough character whose life has been so negatively impacted that she struggles against impulses for violent revenge. She gives as good as she gets in her angry arguments with her Russian captive, but Olha’s temper sometimes threatens to explode. Reiling gives a fantastic, cagy performance as Yevgeny, a character who keeps his cards close to his vest as he wheedles, jokes, insinuates and debates his captors. His portrayal is so strong that it often feels as if he is interrogating them instead of the reverse.

Director Tony Pasqualini gets great work from his trio of actors, and he paces the show in such a way that even with all of the discussions about the war one always hears the ticking clock of impending fate. Szarabajka’s writing presents both sides of the conflict’s arguments in a compelling and informative way that never sacrifices drama or character detail. Thus we hear Olha describe Russian atrocities and how Ukraine is older than Russia, but also hear Yevgeny state that Putin is just trying to reunite what he says has always existed and how his troops think Ukrainian soldiers are Nazis. Szarabajka has an inspired idea in which all three characters are Tolkien fans. This includes the Ukrainians questioning Yevgeny over Lord of the Rings trivia and leads to this incisive putdown: “Sauron would never let anyone take a picture of him riding shirtless on a pony.”

Slava Ukraini is a strong debut for A Few Thoughts Theater Co., and a welcome piece about the Russo-Ukraine War that sheds light on the important subject matter.

Slava Ukraini! (or Waiting for Elon) is presented by A Few Thoughts Theater Co. at Atwater Village Theatre through August 31. Tickets are available at https://afewthoughtstheatercompany.org/