'LIFE WITH ROOSEVELT': 'SUNRISE AT CAMPOBELLO' STARTS TONIGHT (PLAY REVIEW)

Sara Delano Roosevelt didn't want her son, Franklin, to marry his distant cousin Eleanor. When he did anyway, the couple discovered on returning from their honeymoon that the elder Mrs. Roosevelt had rented and completely furnished a house for them.

The domineering mother provides much of the conflict in "Sunrise at Campobello," a play about the days and first few years after Roosevelt discovered he had contracted polio.

The St. Vincent dePaul Youth Ministry will present the drama at 7 tonight and Saturday night at the St. Vincent dePaul School gym.

The play begins at Campobello, the island in New Brunswick, Canada, where the Roosevelt family spent their summers. There, FDR feels the first twinges of the illness that would threaten his political career.

Later scenes follow Roosevelt to New York and finally to the 1924 Democratic National Convention where his political star begins to shine again after losing a run at the vice presidency.

With period music and even period swimming suits, "Sunrise at Campobello" gives audiences a glimpse inside a family who would guide America through some of the blackest days of the 20th century.

Joe Essner is delightful as Louis McHenry Howe, Roosevelt's precocious, asthmatic press officer, providing most of the play's lighter moments. The others belong to Benjamin J. Essner as the overzealous conventioneer Daly.

Ryan Fenwick portrays FDR as both irascible and companionable, which the complex eventual president certainly was.

If the play has a villain it's the overbearing Sara Delano Roosevelt, yet Amber Elfrink gives her protectiveness of her son humanity.

Suzanne White is appealing as Missy LeHand, Roosevelt's secretary, and Amanda Strohmeyer gives us an Eleanor who manages to be both strong and compliant.

Stacy Dohogne, Joe Schnell, Adam Fenwick, Josh Essner and Andrew Strohmeyer are fine as the Roosevelt children. Katie Jenkins and Meghan Jones appear as the Roosevelt household help.

Other members of the cast include Amy Buhrle, John A. Stoverink, Joseph Dufek, Samuel C. Montgomery, Stephen Patrick Hine, Ryan Roggow and Justin Spaeth.

Also appearing in the production are Matt Essner, Matt Frey, Chris Shank, Justin Moore and Drake the dog.

The play, the ninth annual produced by the ministry, is nicely directed by Gerry Strohmeyer with assistance from Ben Edwards. Marty Strohmeyer provided the perfect scenic design, with help by scenic artists Denise Essner and Diana Harold.