Staged reading of James Joyce’s Ulysses in Ocean City

Ocean City Repertory Theater will present a staged reading of James Joyce’s Ulysses, directed by Artistic Director, Flossi Micciolo, on Monday, June 16, from noon to midnight. The readings will take place at various locations in Ocean City.
The Repertory Theater continues its long tradition of Bloomsday readings by local celebrities, esteemed politicians, international diplomats, Joyce enthusiasts, friends, and neighbors.
Come watch and hear the characters and story of Ulysses come alive.
“This is our annual celebration of life, love, language, literature and the coming of summertime,” Micciolo said.
Joyce’s epic novel is about a Jewish advertising salesman, Leopold Bloom, who is beset by thoughts of his infant son’s death and his wife’s infidelities, and Stephen Dedalus, a young writer so alienated from his native culture and religion that he refuses to pray for his dying mother’s soul.
Ulysses follows the two men’s navigations and chance encounters in Dublin on June 16, 1904, the date of Joyce’s first real outing with Nora Barnacle, who left Ireland for good with him and became his life’s companion in Europe.
It (very) loosely follows the episodes of Ulysses from the Odyssey of Homer, with Stephen Dedalus representing Telemachus, Leopold Bloom Ulysses, and Molly Bloom Penelope.
Schedule of Events
Atlantis Inn Bloomsday Tea, 601 Atlantic Avenue, noon to 1 p.m.
Enjoy a gorgeous afternoon tea of finger sandwiches and scones, at the Atlantis Inn Luxury B&B, as songs of Joyce’s bygone era fill the air.
Love’s Old Sweet Song and The Lass of Aughrim are just the beginning of a musical odyssey destined to delight one and all.
Ocean City Arts Center, 1735 Simpson Avenue, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Jack Devine, President of the Arts Center board narrates the Telemachus episode, guest artist, John Alvarez, from Cape May Stage portrays Buck Mulligan and OC Rep actor, Nick Checcio portrays Stephen Dedalus.
In honor of Homer, Greek food from Katina’s Restaurant will be served.
Ocean City Free Public Library, 1735 Simpson Avenue, 3-4 p.m.
This year Christopher Maloney, Executive Director of the library, is reading from the Scylla and Charybdis episode, which takes place in the National library in Dublin and contains Stephen’s theory of ”Hamlet.”
”Dedalus was the last word in Shakespeare criticism,” Maloney, added.
A selection of Ward’s pastries will be served.
Ocean City Sentinel, 112 East 8th Street, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Aeolus Episode: Takes place at the newspaper office of the Freeman’s Journal (and the Evening Telegraph) Here we have the first ‘meeting’ of Stephen and Bloom/Father and son/Odysseus and Telemachus.
Refreshments will be served.
Sun Rose Words & Music, 756 Asbury Avenue, 6-7 p.m.
Jewel Seehaus-Fisher offers a very special talk focused on James Joyce’s Ulysses or Homer’s Odyssey in modern Dublin.
Ulysses is a difficult, but extremely important in western lit, funny and insightful, as Joyce re-imagines (and sometimes turns on its head) Homer’s myth of the return of Ulysses from Troy.
Every chapter in Joyce’s Ulysses corresponds to a chapter in Homer’s Odyssey, yet oh, so very different.
We’ll have fun in the lecture comparing the Homeric myth, with Joyce’s free use of the myth.
Seehaus-Fisher is the recipient of the 2007 NJ State Council on the Arts Fellowship.
Denovum 908 Asbury Avenue, 7:30 p.m.-midnight.
Joyce On Film: Enjoy an informative evening with a film on Joyce directed by Irish filmmaker Ian Graham.
James Joyce: The Trials of Ulysses tells the story of Joyce’s epic novel, Ulysses, one of the most renowned works of 20th century fiction.
Filmed in Europe and the United States, the film recounts the book’s early battles against charges of obscenity and Joyce’s long struggle to get his work published.
USA Weekly News calls it, “Absolute Artistic Genius.”
As a traditional Irish dinner is being served actors will delight one and all with readings and song. This is an event not to be missed. Celtic Harpist Stephanie Sussemyer performs.
Thanks to our sponsors, The Thomas H. Heist Insurance Agency and Perry Egan Chevrolet, this is a free event.
Seating is limited and reservations are strongly suggested. To make reservations, call 609-770-1935.