The Catskill Chronicle

Review by Barry Plaxen

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY (October 2, 2012) – The Forestburgh Theatre Arts Center (FTAC) is presenting Artistic Director Ron Nash’s adaptation of Dore Schary’s one-man play “FDR” to area high schools in the coming months to bring history to life and familiarize adolescent audiences with the power of live, professional theatre. For a detailed report on the educational elements and attributes of this one-man play, click on this link for the D&H CANVAS and go to page 25 for an excellent report by J.A. Di Bello.

But I am concerning myself here with the first of two presentations of “FDR” for the general public, on September 30 at the Eugene D. Nesin Theatre on St. John Street in Monticello. The second public performance is in the Seelig Theatre at SUNY Sullivan in Loch Sheldrake on October 5 at 8:00 p.m.

“FDR” was adapted by Dore Schary from his multi-character award-winning play “Sunrise At Campobello” which swept the 1958 Tony awards with Best Play, Best Director, Tony-winners Ralph Bellamy and Henry Jones (as Louis Howe, FDR’s intimate friend and close political advisor), and a nomination for Mary Fickett as Eleanor. Adapted for the screen a few years later it starred Bellamy, Hume Cronyn and Oscar-nominated Greer Garson.

The role of Roosevelt in “FDR” was originally played by Robert Vaughn, and the play was later adapted and toured the country with performances in over 300 cities, starring Ed Asner.

Performed in one act without intermission, this one-hour-and-fifteen-minute adaptation is an encapsulated version of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s life, taking us through his adjustment to polio, the Great Depression, pre-war politics, WWII, and his vision for the future that he never was able to see.

None of the above elements are given in a lengthy or ponderous manner. Instead, Schary cleverly skims the events in FDR’s life to portray the burdens FDR faced over and above what other presidents might have to deal with. Much of it is done by FDR speaking to others that you don’t see: Louis Howe, Eleanor Roosevelt, and his various secretaries, cabinet members and Winston Churchill.

Norman Duttweiler, FTAC producing director plays FDR. Adding to his well-deserved reputation as a highly skilled and charismatic, dramatic actor, as witnessed in recent productions of “Inherit the Wind,” “Equus” and “The Night of the Iguana,” it is to Duttweiler’s credit here that in “FDR” he conveys the President’s emotion and evokes our emotion no  matter how periphery or basic the description is.

From the moment Duttweiler enters in his wheelchair with his enthusiasm and immediacy, you are instantly connected to his charismatic character, and you know for sure that he speaking only to you. That is, of course, only possible if the actor is highly skilled, besides being decidedly talented.

What is sad (or painful) about the play is, as Di Bello writes “For now as then, this country confronts what appears to be an insurmountable financial crisis, a wide variety of frequently conflicting solutions, and war,” though the present possible war situation he refers to does not have ramifications similar to those of WWII.

Always hovering over and above the descriptions of the events of the time and how FDR handles them, is Duttweiler’s wonderful portrayal of individuality, self-assuredness with self-awareness, responsibility to self and others, staying focused, and acceptance of the worth of another person based on their contribution to society, not their personal idiosyncrasies which may not be “the norm.” All important lessons for both us adults and for the teens that will be seeing this production in their schools.

Hopefully, some teens will see what I saw: never give in to peer pressure, but follow your own path, heart, beliefs, self.

Tickets for the SUNY Sullivan performance on October 5 at 8:00 pm are available online: www.fbplayhouse.org. For information about Forestburgh Theatre Arts Center, call 845-794-2005.