In the 1995 film Before Sunrise, the two lovers spend a day
together on the date. In 1956, Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes got married
on the date. And in 1904, James Joyce had his first outing with his
future wife on the date — the date being June 16th, which happens
also to be the date on which Leopold Bloom, Molly Bloom, and Stephen
Dedalus made a date with literary history. It’s their comings and
goings, both physically and mentally, in Dublin, that form the basis of
Joyce’s Ulysses.
So, come June 16th, it’s once again “Bloomsday,” and Celtic
Crossing, the Irish pub and restaurant in Cooper-Young, is doing its
share — as cities throughout the world will be doing — of
honoring Ulysses and the man behind Ulysses: the Irishman
in exile, James Joyce. Among those behind Memphis’ own “Bloomsday” is
Mary Lowe-Evans.
Lowe-Evans, a Joyce scholar, will be reading from Ulysses
along with her husband, Ron Evans. But they won’t be alone. Local
actors have been invited to read from the novel as well, and Memphians
have been invited to dress accordingly — in the fashions of the
day. You need inspiration? See Bloom, the film, for pointers. Or
wait to watch that film at Celtic Crossing on the 16th. You can maybe
see it with a Gorgonzola sandwich and some kidneys straight out of the
pages of Ulysses. And you can later hear the sounds out of
Ulysses with the live music Celtic Crossing’s planning. What
would Mr. Joyce have to say about being so honored? “I think he would
love it. Absolutely love it,” Lowe-Evans says. “Joyce wanted to achieve
fame, for one thing. And he had such nostalgia for Dublin itself: the
humor, the hospitality, the music, which, if you go to Ireland, is all
over the place. Like Memphis!”
“We want everyone to experience a taste of the Irish literary
heritage that is James Joyce,” says publicist Viola West. “Guests will
be able to participate in dramatic readings along with the actors or
just sit back, relax with a pint of Guinness, and enjoy.”
“Bloomsday” celebration, Tuesday, June 16th, at Celtic Crossing, 903
S. Cooper (274-5151). Readings begin at 5 p.m.