Actors typically try to convince an audience that they are other people.
But James Braly tries to be only the person he is, and nothing more.
“Life in a Marital Institution,” showcased tonight by the Carrboro ArtsCenter, is Braly’s autobiographical one-man show. It is presented by Meredith Vieira Productions.
Braly’s monologue is about his 20 years of married life. It has been performed in New York City and Edinburgh and is presently touring the country.
Jeri-Lynn Schulke, director of the ArtsCenter stage, said she looks forward to the audience’s response.
“This show is perfect for the people in the area,” she said. “The audience loves these types of shows because they are intimate stories about people’s real lives.”
Braly’s performance came to the ArtsCenter through The Monti, a storytelling organization in the Triangle.
Jeff Polish, The Monti’s founder and director, came to performance during his time in New York City. He said he aimed to bring his experiences in the city to the Triangle.
“I loved what I could do to other people by telling them true stories about me,” he said.
He also said that his art calls for a very specific technique.
“If you’re doing a one-man monologue on stage, telling a true story, the goal is to be as much of yourself as possible,” Polish said.
“This sharply contrasts with traditional acting, in which actors try to be as much of someone else as possible.”
Polish said he thinks the response to Braly’s performance will be positive because of the novelty of this type of acting.
“We realized that people really want this,” Polish said.
“People are digging this personal, confessional format that they can’t find anywhere else.”
See the show tonight at the Carrboro ArtsCenter at 8 p.m.
To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.
