Set in Dublin during the 2004 centennial of James Joyce’s Ulysses-inspired Bloomsday celebration, “Anna Livia, Lucky in Her Bridges,” centers on David (Sentell Harper) and Desmond (Timothy Martin), a mysterious stranger who confronts him on a local bridge. Unnerved by this unexpected encounter, David wanders Dublin, trying to explain his familiar feelings for locations and people he’s never met. Unfortunately, the muddled script wanders with him, making clumsy attempts to explain its ghostly components. Harper and Martin have a sweet, tragic romantic rapport; Julie Burt Nichols and Mike Dunbar are appealing as Desmond’s siblings Ellen and Barry, and David Keller’s mournful cello punctuates the scenes nicely. But the actors’ game energy and strong chemistry can’t save the show from convoluted plot stretches and inconsistent character portrayals. (Lisa Buscani)
Toxic: A Review of Poison at The Plagiarists The real poison at work here isn’t strychnine or hemlock, it’s a dreary self-seriousness that leaches the play of any hint of wit, humor and humanity.
Set in Dublin during the 2004 centennial of James Joyce’s Ulysses-inspired Bloomsday celebration, “Anna Livia, Lucky in Her Bridges,” centers on David (Sentell Harper) and Desmond (Timothy Martin), a mysterious stranger who confronts him on a local bridge. Unnerved by this unexpected encounter, David wanders Dublin, trying to explain his familiar feelings for locations and people he’s never met. Unfortunately, the muddled script wanders with him, making clumsy attempts to explain its ghostly components. Harper and Martin have a sweet, tragic romantic rapport; Julie Burt Nichols and Mike Dunbar are appealing as Desmond’s siblings Ellen and Barry, and David Keller’s mournful cello punctuates the scenes nicely. But the actors’ game energy and strong chemistry can’t save the show from convoluted plot stretches and inconsistent character portrayals. (Lisa Buscani)
