Review: ACT's BLOOMSDAY is Filled with Sweet Charm

In our jaded and cynical world sometimes our inner cup of hope and romance can get a little low and we can use something to refill it. Well never fear romance seekers as ACT's World Premiere production of Steven Dietz's "Bloomsday" is here. This sweet little charmer is bound to fill up the romance cup of even the most jaded among us, at least a little bit.

But not to worry it's not a sappy and cloying romantic comedy as we meet Robert (Peter Crook) who has returned to Dublin to find the girl he met and lost 35 years ago. But this is no ordinary flashback play as Robert interacts with the young Cathleen (Sydney Andrews) he remembers from his youth just as Robbie (Eric Ankrim), Robert's younger self, interacts with Cait (Marianne Owen), Cathleen in present day as they explore the events and fears that led to their meeting, separation and eventual reunion.

Dietz's convention of mixing the past with the present in an all too self aware way works beautifully and when mixed with his signature rich characters makes for a wonderfully engaging time. But even with all the sappy love stuff there's an honest and sobering realism to the piece that takes this beyond a simple romantic comedy and places it in the realm of a tragic love story. And director Kurt Beattie keeps that reality in check with the heartfelt moments beautifully.

The ensemble is superb and mixes the old and new, the experienced and the naïve perfectly as their older selves try to enlighten their younger selves while being reminded of the hope and love of the younger selves. Crook kicks off the play flawlessly with his exuberance and effortlessly transports us into the time shifting world we're about to see. Andrews makes for a stunningly strong yet heartbreaking young woman as she falls further down the rabbit hole of this man who knows way too much about her. Ankrim then enters and shows a gorgeous take on the younger version of the man we already met and keeps the hope of this relationship alive. And the always-amazing Owen then takes all of the things we've learned about her younger self and creates a sweet yet tragic figure that you cannot help but fall in love with.

"Bloomsday" gives us a funny, touching and stark look at what it is to be in love no matter what stage of life you're in. And so, with my three letter rating system I give it a sweet satisfied sigh of a YAY. Grab your best guy or gal and make a lovely date night of this one. It's sure to fill that romance cup right up.

"Bloomsday" performs at ACT through October 11th. For tickets or information contact the ACT box office at 206-292-7676 or visit them online at www.acttheatre.org.

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