New York is James Joyce’s kind of town - lots of bars, fevered
conversations, the occasional buyback, and many the soft touch.
Well, many more than his usual stalking grounds in Dublin,
Trieste, Zurich, or Paris; it is estimated that Mr. Joyce borrowed the equivalent
of $500,000 in his lifetime.
New York definitely has a soft spot in its gruff heart for
Sunny Jim, and why wouldn’t it? James Joyce was the most egalitarian of
writers. He described in voluminous detail exactly what Joe and Josephine
Citizen were thinking, doing, and fantasizing about.
Still the man does have a rap for being difficult to
comprehend. The key is to either read him aloud behind closed doors, or tread
downtown to Ulysses on Stone Street on June 16th.
Need another excuse to attend this annual Joycean shenanigan
– well, pints are free between 4 and 6pm. Mr. Joyce would most definitely have
approved.
What makes this particular shindig so special is its populist
nature. Begun by Colum McCann and Frank McCourt fifteen years ago, the emphasis
is on irregular New Yorkers declaiming their favorite passages of Ulysses.
These readings range from hilarious, droll, pedantic to just
plain unintelligible, but as the booze and sunshine kick in they all mesh
together into a bloody great “Blooming” afternoon.
To top it all we have Aedín Moloney and Patrick Fitzgerald!
I often marvel that Joyce doesn’t come bounding out of his grave in Zurich when
these two hit the outdoor stage on Stone Street.
Talk about living their parts! They positively exude the
life and times of Ulysses. Mr. Joyce would have adored their devotion to
substance and detail, and promptly solicited a short-term loan from each.
Aedín is the finest Molly Bloom I’ve ever experienced and
that’s saying something. There’s a fierceness to her interpretation - a
willingness to wholeheartedly embrace the stark and stunning sexuality of
Joyce’s greatest creation.
I’ve seen blasé men of the world blanch at her ecstatic embrace
of Molly’s desires and carnal tastes.
Of late though she’s been homing in on Mrs. Bloom’s
apprehension of aging, and that’s added a new dimension of courage to an
already heroic character.
Of course Molly had lost her only child and her
determination not to surrender to “the glooms” has always been inspiring.
Suffice it to say that this year’s performance was Aedin’s
best.
Do yourselves a favor, go to iTunes and download a copy of "Reflections
of Molly Bloom" Vol. 1 and 2, with music by Paddy Moloney (The Chieftains)
and Carlos Nunez.
With Aedín, piper Paddy Moloney, and Molly Bloom at home
with you – what more could you ask for? Jimmy Joyce himself might even drop by
for a listen – and perhaps a loan.
I’ve watched Patrick Fitzgerald since he was the young stud-star
in residence at The Irish Repertory Theatre. In fact his portrayal of Christy
Mahon in Playboy of the Western World back in 1990 remains my favorite.
He also played Dr. Noel Browne in my play, Rebel in the
Soul, at The Rep, so I’m hardly lacking in appreciation of his acting.
And yet nothing prepared me for this year’s fiery Bloomsday performances
– both from Ulysses and Finnegan’s Wake.
His timing, pitch, and attack are galvanic. I often feel
that he’s channeling Joyce’s verbose, articulate and outraged father
particularly in the strident “Citizen” passages. He and our expansive host Colum
McCann are a great stage pairing and bring the dead soaring back to life on
Stone Street.
Patrick has written his own play 'Gibraltar: An adaptation
after James Joyce's Ulysses' and performed it to acclaim in Dublin,
Philadelphia, and New York.
A member of the James Joyce Foundation USA he leads a
Ulysses Reading Group at the Irish Consulate on the 3rd Tuesday of
every month. Judging by the robust performances of the group’s members on Stone
St., the New York Irish diplomatic day must get off to a blistering start.
Is it a coincidence that New York City has spawned the two
most exciting contemporary interpreters of James Joyce?
I think not! By adding a shot of Gotham grit to Ulysses
Aedín Maloney and Patrick Fitzgerald drag James Joyce roaring out of academia,
and resurrect him on our raucous streets where he belongs.
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