On Feb. 7, Sopris Theatre Company (STC) debuted its third show of the season, “Bloomsday,” by Steven Deitz. This bittersweet story of two whirlwind lovers takes place in Dublin, Ireland — both in the present and 35 years before.
The lovers, Robbie and Caithleen, or Robert and Cait, met one another 35 years ago on a Bloomsday tour led by Cait. Bloomsday is celebrated in Dublin every year on June 16 as a commemoration and celebration of James Joyce, as his book, “Ulysses,” takes place on June 16, 1904. Fans of the novel flock there every year to walk and visit the same places the characters in the book did. The book, like the play, explores the mosaic of nature and the outcomes of the choices we make, or avoid.
According to the dramaturgy, written by Ciara Morrison, “These same themes are explored as the characters wrestle with their memories, choices and regrets — just as Joyce’s characters did over a century ago.”
Throughout the show, Caithleen and Robbie encounter the older versions of themselves and each other, who each offer words of warning and glimpses into their futures following the day they spent together.
The lovers are portrayed by four actors. One acting duo, Scott Elmore (Robbie) and Pax Wilde (Caithleen), play the lovers when they first met and were young, impulsive, scared and, yet, hopeful. The same two characters, 35 years apart, are portrayed by STC veteran Michael Banks and Morgan Walsh.
Opening night was met with a small, cozy and intimate audience, which was captivated by the show’s witty and clever humor and left pondering lessons related to life, love and grief. The sage characters interact with the younger versions of themselves, and one another in the present.
Each character in this show is relatable. Audiences may find themselves internalizing Robert’s messages of letting go, empathizing with Cait’s nostalgic outlook on love and grief, Caithleen’s urge for adventure or Robbie’s desperation to make sense of all that is happening in his life — even if it scares the hell out of him.
If you have ever been in love, had your heart broken or found yourself questioning life choices, and wondered if you could have changed the outcomes of certain things, this play will strike a chord. It will break you open and touch your soul, as it did with this reporter.
Touching more on the element of grief in this story, audiences will witness each version of the lovers not only asking themselves “What if?” when it comes to one another and the love they shared, but how they may have shown their love for others who were no longer in their lives. The show poses a sort of thought process around grief, wherein the griever imagines the person they are honoring in a place where they were once most happy and content.
This show is for lovers. It is for grievers. It is for anyone who needs a lesson in letting go without having to forget the love and life that was.
“Bloomsday” runs through Feb. 16, with show times at 7pm on Feb.14 and 15 and a matinee on Feb.16 at 2pm. For tickets, visit www.tinyurl.com/BloomsdayCMC or call the box office at 970-947-8177.