Thursday, October 1, 2026
Performers and literature lovers will come together for the Sea Cliff Civic Association’s annual James Joyce Jaunt next week. The adaptation of author James Joyce’s “Ulysses” is performed in recognition of Bloomsday, celebrated globally on June 16 each year.
Civic association President Ann DiPietro and her husband, Dan, began the James Joyce Jaunt 15 years ago. It began as a small event with no more than five actors in costume reading excerpts from the novel. Since then, the performance has become a mobile one, with different scenes taking place in several locations throughout the village. It features more actors, and all scenes are adapted by Dan and Sea Cliff resident Fred Stroppel.
“It’s evolved,” Dan said, “quite a bit.”
All events of the more than 700-page novel take place in one day, June 16, 1904. The date has become known as “Bloomsday,” named for main character Leopold Bloom. Celebrations are held in communities around the world.
“There’s something kind of powerful,” Dan said, “about being part of a global event.”
This year, the performance will be held in a single location, in the parking lot at Campground Craft Beer & Coffee on Sea Cliff Avenue. Dan said they chose to have it in one location because several regular attendees have expressed difficulty with the walking typically required during the jaunt. Moving throughout the village for different scenes is intended to simulate Bloom’s travels through Dublin in the novel.
Stroppel explained that this year’s preparation consists largely of mapping out the performance in the space. The majority of the actors are returning in the same roles they have held for several years. Stroppel said using one location may help focus the story because there will be no breaks between scenes.
“It’s going to be interesting,” he said, “just doing it in one flowing narrative and seeing how it comes together.”
Dan praised Stroppel for his ability to “streamline” the novel’s story for the performance. The jaunt focuses on telling the story of the developing father-son relationship between Bloom and the younger protagonist, Stephen Dedalus. Stroppel said they chose to dramatize scenes they thought would reach the audience.
Ann and Dan expressed admiration for Joyce’s writing style and said that many people may be intimidated by the novel. Ann added that many attendees show interest in reading “Ulysses” following the jaunt.
“So often at the end,” she said, “people will say, ‘I never knew that James Joyce was so funny,’ and it’s true.”
The performance will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Stroppel said he hopes to give the audience a theatrical experience and leave attendees with something to think about.
“What we just want to do,” he said, “is let people know that there is a story flowing through it that’s quite accessible, quite funny, and very touching too.”
