The most frequently heard comment in the Gaiety theatre on Tuesday evening was "Isn't she more like Marlene Dietrich than Dietrich herself?" They were talking about Sian Phillips of course, who brought Pam Gem's show, Marlene straight from London's West End to Dublin. When Sian arrived at the after-show party some people looked quite confused - not only with Sian's conversion out of Marlene mode, but also because her daughter Kate O'Toole looked so like her.
Kate, who was celebrating her birthday this week, as well as her mother's success, had to hurry back to London soon after the run opened as she had a writing assignment to fulfil. She was just one of Sian's fond entourage which also included old friend Mafra O'Reilly looking stunning as ever with a small chapeau, and The Dubliners' Ronnie Drew, who accompanied Kate. Later the whole crew went to Robert Doggett's Trocadero restaurant for a late supper.
They missed many of the party breaking into song accompanied by "Professor" Peter O'Brien on the grand piano. The room was set for the impromptu performance with plenty of occasional tables and candelabras, and singer Anne Bushnell led a choir that included the Gaiety PR manager Geraldine Kearney; Seosamhin Ni Bheaglaoich of Radio Na Gaeltachta, and Natasha Fennell of Leargas in a few rousing choruses of Marlene numbers.
It was all good practice for Peter O'Brien who has a number of concerts coming up in the National Concert Hall; a solo performance; The Fun Palace with Agnes Bernelle to celebrate her 75th birthday; and yet another with Eamonn Morrissey entitled Myles Na Jopaleen - a celebration of Flann O'Brien and Scott Joplin who both died on April 1st, albeit years apart.
Other folk that enjoyed the show, even if they didn't feel called upon to join in the singing, were Gerry Ryan who was first to his feet for the standing ovation; film censor Sheamus Smith; playwright Hugh Leonard; Bill Hughes of Radius TV; Tony O Dalaigh of the Dublin Theatre Festival, and David McConnell of the Arts Council.