(OUTview NW) RE-view: ACT's Bloomsday goes Back in Time for Love!

Old is New Again!           Photo: Pai

by MK Scott

From the Reinvented Classic "Children's Hour" to the Modern "American Idiot", my latest Theatrical adventure was a World Premiere.

An Irish Love story with 4 actors playing 2 characters, How? you ask, I will explain, but first I need to add that his was the last play at ACT under the direction from Kurt Beattie who is retiring after 40 years as its Artistic Director. How quaint that in "Bloomsday" by Steven Dietz,  we travel through time by 35 years.

The Story is reminiscent of a Favorite 80's Classic film, Dream a Little Dream, that starred Jason Robards, who takes control of Corey Feldman's Body and Piper Laurie takes other Merideth Salenger's to get Feldman and Salenger together.

Well, in Bloomsday, Old Robert (Peter Crook, most recently in Cabaret) encounters a young Irish Caithleen (Sydney Andrews, most recently in Vanya and Spike) who is an anxious Irish guide, giving a tour of the Dublin depicted during a single day (now referred to as Bloomsday) in James Joyce’s 1922 modernist master-novel, “Ulysses.”

Old and Young Caithleen     Photo: Pai

Then Old Cait (Marianne Owen,  recently reviewed in Cat on Hot Tin Roof) meets Robbie (Eric Ankrim, recently reviewed in Jacques Brei and the director of American Idiot), also 20, is an American tourist (from Renton, WA, no less) at loose ends, wandering the spare, fine set by Robert Dahlstrom of Dublin’s brick-paved streets. He’s overjoyed to stumble across, then tag after this feisty, pretty girl.


Robbie hasn’t even heard of this literary landmark when he meets Caithleen, while the older and more cynical Robert brands it “an under-read and overpraised piece of drivel.”

We learn that Crook's Rob grew up and matured but like Robards in 'Dream" becomes grumpy. While Owen's Cait we learn of her deteriorating mental health and her voluntary commitment.

When are is said and done, can you change the past? If Fate is meant to be, you will see each other again and they do. But then, traveling in time would be nice!

ACT's Bloomsday continues through Oct 11th, Click HERE for TIX and INFO.