Ulysses

Elevator Repair Services Theater Company in association with The Public Theater put forth a unique play about the James Joyce book, "Ulysses". Set as a staged reading (DOTS), the actors move about the baron stage with ease. Directed by John Collins with co-direction by Scott Shepard, the story and the comedic "business" for the most part are really good. Not that "Ulysses" doesn't have some problems, the play for the most part is enjoyable. At 2:30 minutes, the direction is tested with the length of this play.

The cast has seven actors, four of them are really good, three are miscast. As we follow this memory book, Leopold Bloom (Vin Knight) is sensational as both Bloom and Mr. Deasy. The banter between he and Scott Shepard work well. Shepard plays Buck Mulligan, Blazes Boylan and three other roles in this show. The two are instrumental in the play as the action focuses a lot on them. As Joyce wrote it, the two play chess with one another. In various roles they compete for love, security and a solid place in society.

"Ulysses" as a book has been debated since it was written. Half way through this monmouth book, Joyce gives us an interpreter, a person who joins the story. Like Elevator Repair Services, Joyce had a knack for taking a story and tossing it around. The theater company did exactly the same thing with their production of "Measure for Measure" last season. The company chooses their productions carefully and they do them well. While this show was a bit to long (10 minutes in the first act, about the same in the second), it covers a lot of the book fairly quickly.

Elevator Repair Services Theater Company in association with The Public Theater put forth a unique play about the James Joyce book, "Ulysses". Set as a staged reading (DOTS), the actors move about the baron stage with ease. Directed by John Collins with co-direction by Scott Shepard, the story and the comedic "business" for the most part are really good. Not that "Ulysses" doesn't have some problems, the play for the most part is enjoyable. At 2:30 minutes, the direction is tested with the length of this play.

The sound (Ben Williams), the projection Matthew Deinhart) and its engineering (Jason Sebastian) make this show more intriguing than the actual writing. The projections and sound light the show much like a carnival. The two draw the audience into the show; their creativity is a show within a show!

As Molly Bloom and seven other characters, Maggie Hoffman was a stand out all night, as was Stephanie Weeks as Martha and seven other parts (all the actors play multiple roles).

I thought the other three actors were miscast. Their language and cadence made it feel that we were seeing a different show when they spoke. The costumes, like the various actors were a tale of two shows (Enver Chakartash). Where some of the costumes were excellent, especially Leopold Bloom's, some were lazy. I thought that having a modern watch on one of the actors lacked thought; others had modern cloths on.

Elevator puts on a different kind of a show, fun and unusual. Like "Measure for Measure", The Repair Service brings a great twist, an insightful twist to this legendary play.

The Public is known for producing different shows. In "Ulysses", a new kind of play like this is fun and exciting.

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As Oedipus gets ready to close early February, the new Spring season gets under way at the end of February.

#Broadway Bob, James Joyce, The Public Theater, Broadway, Tony Awards, New York City.