Tuesday saw the presentation of the Evening Herald Dublin Theatre Festival Awards at a lunch in the Shelbourne Hotel. Flautist Edward Beckett travelled from Hertfordshire to present the awards, which portrayed the face of his famous uncle, Samuel Beckett. "He would have been quite amazed that I agreed to do this," Edward said.
There were so many distinguished guests from the theatrical world that they could probably have written, directed and acted an impromptu play on the premises with their collective talents. Playwright Marina Carr was talking to Fiach MacConghail of the Project, for which she is writing a new play. "It's about Ariel - but it's nothing to do with washing powder," she laughed. The builders are at work on the Project's new theatre. "We had the ceremonial knocking-down in the middle of the festival," Fiach reported. "The actors were out with lump hammers." No doubt the energy required to swing the hammers in the act of demolition was inspired by thinking of critics.
Tony O Dalaigh, Fergus Linehan, and Eithne Healy of the Dublin Theatre Festival were looking relieved and justly proud after all their hard work. Doireann Ni Bhriain, general manager of next year's Millennium Festivals project, was picking up festival-related hints. Actor Niall Toibin was sporting a tie with jaunty pink flowers; Pauline Flanagan applauded as her co-star in By the Bog of Cats, Olwen Fouere, picked up the award for best actress. Also receiving awards were Paul Mercier, and John Kavanagh.
Senator David Norris, one of the judging panel, gallantly rescued the RTE microphone as it fell off the podium and into his lunch. Also among the guests were Garry MacMahon of Macnas; John Costigan of the Gaiety; Maureen Marlowe, the director of the Irish branch of Reuters, who were this year's corporate festival sponsors; Richard Wakely of the Abbey; Liam Rellis of Red Kettle; and Bruce Arnold, dapper as usual in a floppy bow-tie. Afterwards, the party adjourned to the Horseshoe Bar, where the show continued for several acts.