posted
Apr 15, 2016
19th Annual Staged Reading / Bloomsday Celebration of James Joyce’s Ulysses
The Wild Geese Players of Seattle join Bloomsday
celebrations across the globe honoring Ulysses’ author James Joyce. Our
19th annual staged reading of selections from the book will be held on
Sunday, June 19, 2016 from 2–4 PM at the Seattle Central
Library, 1000 Fourth Ave,
Seattle, WA 98104, Level 4 – Room 2 – Howard S. Wright Family & Janet W.
Ketcham Meeting Room.
Bloomsday (Bloom’s day, named for Ulysses’ main character, Leopold
Bloom) is a worldwide commemoration and celebration of the life of Irish
writer James Joyce and refers to the 24-hour period in 1904 in which
Ulysses is set. Ulysses follows the wanderings of Bloom, a Jewish
everyman, and Stephen Dedalus, a young writer and Joyce’s alter ego, as
they wander the streets of Dublin.
Join us for a taste of Ulysses, in small bites. This year’s reading
features Chapter 3, “Proteus”, and Chapter 6, “Hades”. In the book, both
chapters take place around 11 am. In Chapter 3 Stephen has wandered down
to Sandymount Strand (the beach at the southeast side of Dublin) to
stroll and to think. He contemplates different theories of vision,
Aristotle’s in particular, and remembers his adventures in Paris before
his mother died.
Meanwhile, in Chapter 6 we join the funeral of Paddy Dignam, with Bloom
sharing a carriage with Simon Dedalus (father of Stephen) and others to
Glasnevin cemetery. As the carriage moves past Watery Lane, Bloom sees
Stephen and points him out to Simon Dedalus. Bloom’s Jewish parentage
makes him an outsider to the Catholics in the cab, and the conversation
takes some awkward turns.
The Wild Geese Players of Seattle have presented staged readings of
Irish literature, by writers such as James Joyce and W.B. Yeats, since
1998. We are a diverse group of people with an interest in Irish
literature, and most of us are either Irish-born or have Irish
connections. We believe that poetry and certain novels are best read
aloud, that some words are better heard than read.
For more information, visit the Wild Geese Players’ website
www.WildGeeseSeattle.org, like our
Facebook group, or
follow @WildGeeseSea on Twitter.
Follow-up contacts:
George Reilly, Director, WildGeeseSeattle@gmail.com
Claudia Finn, CFinnSeattle@gmail.com
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posted
Oct 10, 2015
2015 is the 150th anniversary of the birth of William Butler Yeats, one
of Ireland’s greatest poets.
In his honor, the Wild Geese Players of Seattle will present a reading of Yeats’ work.
Location
Couth Buzzard Bookstore,
8310 Greenwood Ave N,
Seattle, WA 98103.
7pm, Sunday, October 18th, 2015.
Please RSVP to our Facebook event.
Program
The program will include readings from
- Easter 1916
- The Lake Isle of Innisfree
- The Wild Swans at Coole
- Sailing to Byzantium
- Song of Wandering Aengus
and more.
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posted
Oct 01, 2015
Poet, dramatist, senator:
William Butler Yeats
was a dominant figure in Irish literature in the early Twentieth Century.
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posted
Apr 30, 2015
The Wild Geese Players of Seattle will present a staged reading of
Chapter 2, “Nestor”, and Chapter 5, “The Lotus Eaters”,
adapted from the 1922 edition of James Joyce’s Ulysses,
on 2pm on Sunday, June 20th, 2015,
at The Seattle Central Library
1000 Fourth Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
Map.
Donations towards costs of posters and props are welcome.
Our annual Bloomsday readings started in 1998.
We started afresh last year, with the chapters that introduce
the two primary characters of the book,
Stephen Dedalus in Chapter 1 and Leopold Bloom in Chapter 4.
This year, we’re continuing with Chapter 2, “Nestor”,
and Chapter 5, “The Lotus Eaters”.
Audio Recording
The Seattle Library
recorded our reading.
Chapter 2: Nestor
Stephen Dedalus, possibly Ireland’s most lackluster schoolmaster,
manages to get through a truncated set of lessons—but
not without continued ruminations about his mother, mothering in general,
and earlier annoyances by Mulligan and Haines.
Later, collecting his pay (already spent) from headmaster Deasy,
possibly Ireland’s most enthusiastic defender of cattle,
Stephen endures a review of Deasy’s perspectives
on life, money, and Irish history—generously
larded with expectable points regarding the role of Jews in world affairs.
Chapter 5: The Lotus Eaters
Meanwhile, Leopold Bloom continues making his way to Paddy Dignam’s
funeral—but along the way, there are of course several Things To Be Done.
From the post office, he receives a letter from his love-interest-by-mail
(not put off by his last letter);
stops in to a Catholic church service to reflect on theological matters;
runs an errand for Molly at the chemists’, and picks up a bar of soap for himself;
and inadvertently supplies a betting tip to an acquaintance
on his way to the baths,
where he envisions himself relaxing in full flower.
Reading at the Seattle Central Library
The reading will be held in the Seattle Central Library at Level 4, Room 2
— Howard S. Wright Family & Janet W. Ketcham Meeting Room.
Please arrive before 2pm to find a seat.
The reading will take roughly 90 minutes.
Poster
We encourage you to download Ellen Coyle’s
Nestor/Lotus Eaters poster
(PDF, 4.1MB) and post it around town.
Press Release
This is our eighteenth year of Bloomsday readings.
(Press Release).
Commentary
Nestor (Chapter 2)
The Lotus Eaters (Chapter 5)
Miscellaneous
Other Events
See our archives for details of our previous readings.
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