Murder Mystery Motivates Morsani

SBINSIDER REPORTING: February 23rd, 2025

The Community Circle Players performs annually (and maybe twice this year!) a play or series of plays at the Mtn. View Ballroom. Ticket buyers also are treated to a repast provided as part of the ticket fee, which provides natural breaks in the performance for the different courses.

The most challenging job in creating a compelling, engaging performance is the Director.

The upcoming show, Witness for the Prosecution, is being directed by an experienced actor and director, Tim Morsani an HOA1 resident. SBINSIDER interviewed Mr. Morsani to find out how he plans to take on the task:

SBINSIDER: Tim Morsani, you are directing Witness for the Prosecution, which the Community Circle Players are performing. Can you share when you became interested in the theater?

MORSANI: I guess I got hooked in high school. After that I did a community theater production of Bus Stop. In college, I got really, really lucky. I tried out for the role of a robot in a 1930’s protest play – got the part – great theater department headed by two former New York actors. That summer, the head of the department called me on the phone and asked if I’d like a scholarship. Needless to say I was shocked. The scholarship paid for my tuition, books, and rent for the next two years.

SBINSIDER: Of the roles you have performed, which was your favorite:

MORSANI: That’s a toughie. Recently – Hanay in “39 Steps.” Over the many, many moons – I loved the sword fight in “Romeo and Juliet” and playing the lead convict in “My Three Angels.”

SBINSIDER: What made you decide to take on directing a play?

MORSANI: Somebody has to do it. Acting is much easier and much more fun.

SBINSIDER: Is this the 1st play you will have directed?

MORSANI: This is my second in SaddleBrooke. The last one was a political farce called “The Outsider.” I’d like to do it again during the next presidential election cycle.

SBINSIDER: Were you an actor before coming to SaddleBrooke and where\when was that?

MORSANI: Most of my community theater acting was while I was working in Carson City, Nevada. I did several shows there including a few musicals. I like to sing when given the opportunity. Again, I was lucky to be part of an excellent theater group. We did some great shows.

SBINSIDER: How did you decide which play to direct?

MORSANI: Selecting a script is, by far, the hardest thing to do for SaddleBrooke actors and audiences. For the current production, “Witness for the Prosecution,” I went to the internet and called up Broadway productions by year. I started browsing in the 1930s and found this play in the 1950s list.

SBINSIDER: CCP has an experienced group of actors. Did that influence you when thinking about directing?

MORSANI: Yes, definitely. A murder mystery has to be totally believable. For the performance to be successful the audience has to stay interested in what’s going on – curious about the characters and the plot. If the audience is distracted by mediocre acting they will not enjoy the production. I knew we had actors here who could pull it off.

SBINSIDER: What has been your most unexpected challenge to directing?

MORSANI: Frankly, I can’t think of any challenges that were unexpected. There are abundant challenges but none that surprised me. Of course we’re not finished yet.

SBINSIDER: Do you plan to direct again or act in the future?

MORSANI: I certainly plan/hope to act in the future. Directing is tough. I guess I’ll probably do it again when necessary – assuming I can find a good script.

SBINSIDER: What is one thing you would say to somebody thinking about seeing Witness, but remains undecided?

MORSANI: You will be surprised how good it is. If you like mysteries, you just can’t do any better.

Upcoming! SBINSIDER will interview some of the leading players in the performance.

TICKETS:

For information on dates and times, visit the DVPAC.NET website