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Willows Theatre's well-crafted "Sunrise at Campobello" taps into the present
By Pat Craig CONTRA COSTA TIMES
May 13, 2008
There is something unsettling about the new Willows Theatre production of Dore Schary's "Sunrise at Campobello."
The once-epic-length 1958 biographical play about the early career of Franklin D. Roosevelt has been trimmed to less than two hours and focuses on the uncomfortable idea of history repeating itself. Set in the '20s, around the time Roosevelt was stricken with polio, "Sunrise" begins with the future four-term president coming to terms with the brutal illness that robbed this young family man of the use of his legs.
As he learns to cope with his disability in daily life, Roosevelt (Tim Hendrixson) also realizes a promising political career appears to have been cut short. And, although most of those around him are trying to convince him to make the best of what he has been left with, FDR struggles to regain as much mobility as he can.
He works equally hard on his political ambitions, finally returning to the spotlight when he walks, unaided, to the podium to nominate Al Smith for the Democratic presidential nomination. Smith was believed to be unelectable because he was Catholic.
As the story moves on, with Roosevelt moving toward what will be a hugely successful run for the presidency, the piece fills with an array of reasons why FDR, and others, are unsuitable as candidates. All of the reasons have little to do with the hopeful's political ideas and experience, centering instead on incidentals that have no direct bearing on the job.
Certainly, there are many differences between America now and 70 years ago, but the Willows production makes it difficult to decide how to feel about the way many things have changed so little.
The idea creates a fascinating piece of theater, but some of the context of the original play may be missed by some.
Overall, the production is well-done. Hendrixson creates a charming Roosevelt, although, like the rest of the cast, he doesn't attempt an impersonation. Diana Boos as Eleanor Roosevelt, FDR's wife, and Barbara Grant as Sara Roosevelt, his mother, deliver solid performances. And Cassidy Brown turns Louis McHenry Howe, Roosevelt's pal and adviser, into a fascinating and well-rounded character.
The set, by Jean-Francois Revon, creates a series of picture-within-picture images that focus the story well.
Reach Pat Craig at 925-945-4736 or pcraig@bayareanewsgroup.com .
THEATER REVIEW WHAT: "Sunrise at Campobello," by Dore Schary WHERE: Willows Theatre, Willows Shopping Center, 1975 Diamond Blvd., Concord WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays; and 3 p.m. Sundays; through June 1 RUNNING TIME: 1 hour, 50 minutes TICKETS: $30-$40; 925-798-1300, www.willowstheatre.org
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