Jul 7, 2004
Bryson's 'Botticelli' Comes To Carrollwood
By MICHAEL MURILLO
mmurillo@mediageneral.com
During its 2003-2004 season, the Carrollwood Players have entertained audiences with versions of famous plays such as "Rumors" and "Summer and Smoke." But theatergoers will have hard time comparing their upcoming production of "But Does He Know Botticelli" to anything they've seen before.
"People don't know this play. It's something brand new for them," explained director Jim Brennan. "It's never been produced on stage."
The two-act play was created by Karen Mueller Bryson, a Carrollwood Players alumnus who now lives in Gold Canyon, Ariz.
Brennan, a Westchase resident who has been with Carrollwood Players since 1992, said the play was refined at a January read-through where theater members offered ideas to clarify and lengthen the work.
Bryson was present at the read-through, and made changes so it would fit the length of a traditional Carrollwood Players performance.
"But Does He Know Botticelli" is based on Bryson's own dating experiences, and Brennan said that audiences will appreciate the authenticity of the scenes. "It's a good example of exactly what happens in normal conversations," he said. MaryAnn Bardi, president of Carrollwood Players, agrees that audiences will recognize some of the scenarios presented on the stage. "I think they'll get a little bit of themselves out of the play," she said. Bardi worked on-stage with the author when Bryson lived in Tampa, and plays the role of Mary Ann Manelli in the upcoming performances.
Bardi's character is an opinionated mother, and if she sees a little bit of herself in the script it isn't a coincidence. "I asked (Bryson) why she named the character Mary Ann, because my name is MaryAnn," Bardi recalled. "I said to her, kiddingly, 'so you really did name the character after me,' and she said 'yes.'" Any similarities notwithstanding, Bardi said she loves her character and believes that audiences will react positively to the entire play. "I think it's going to be great," she said. "I think the audience is going to love it."
Karen Mueller Bryson also hopes that Carrollwood Players audiences will react favorably to her work, because she has fond memories of her fellow performers in Tampa. "You get to know people pretty well when you spend the amount of time that it takes to get a show up and running," said Bryson, who spent time with the group as an actor from 1996-1999. "I feel very fortunate that I've had the opportunity to meet and work with some extremely talented people at Carrollwood Players."
Bryson also had two of her short plays performed as part of the Players' "One Act Weekend," with Bryson herself directing one of them. She believes that "But Does he Know Botticelli" is a good fit for the theater and its audience base. Bardi explained that offering different projects allows the theater to grow and provide audiences with a variety of performers and productions. "We try to think about 'what would our audience like?' and maybe they'd like something a little different," she said.
Brennan is happy with the direction and casting of the play, and said it was important to remain true to Bryson's vision. "I've tried to keep within her bounds," he explained. "I'm confident that this is what she would have liked." Bryson feels equally confident in the production. While she will not be able to attend the performances in person, she said it was "very rewarding" to have the Carrollwood Players bring her work to the stage. Although she might have apprehensions if the play was being handled by strangers, her familiarity with the participants allows Bryson to expect a strong performance. "When a theater you're not familiar with accepts your work for production, you don't always know what the outcome will be," Bryson explained. "Because I know the director personally, I am extremely confident that they will do a good job with it."
If a good job means healthy attendance for "Does He Know Botticelli," it could lead to similar projects in the future. While the group's "One Act Weekend" highlights shorter works, Brennan said that other writers might get a chance to see their full-length plays performed by Carrollwood Players. "If this turns out to be satisfactory, we may try to do the same thing again: Invite other plays, put on a read-through, get recommendations and suggestions, and then put it on later," he said.
"But Does He Know Botticelli" runs from July 9-18. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.
Tickets are $12 for adults, and $10 for seniors and students. For more information, call 265-4000.
