Eyebrows are raised when he walks in. What does it mean? Paul McGuinness has arrived and - gulp - he's early! Michael Colgan, Fergus Linehan and Alan Moloney are all agog . . . the three confer quickly before the Eircom Dublin Theatre Festival is officially launched.
"I was told to be here early," says the U2 manager. "Besides, I was hungry as well," he adds as a plate of sandwiches hoves into view. Ah, well, they say with smiles, that's all right then.
Gate Theatre director Colgan explains that this is the city's last theatre festival before the millennium. "It's time to become even bigger," he says. A starry-eyed Moloney, producer with Parallel Films, mentions he recently got married to Mari Kennedy - they're just back from a three-week honeymoon in Corsica.
Of all the productions on offer, which is the most exciting? According to festival director designate Linehan, it has to be Cloudstreet, a five-hour marathon presentation from Australia, which has already sold out at the SFX Theatre.
There are no balloons, fireworks or fanfares at the reception but festival chairwoman Moya Doherty promises "some magical evenings" during the 12-day event. Hot Mouth, a five-person a cappella group perform a number of pieces after the speeches.
Niall Toibin, who will be appearing in his one-man show at Cork's Everyman Theatre tomorrow night, arrives with his wife, Judy, to check out the line-up in Dublin. He has brought New York friend Jack Deacy, one of Mayor Giuliani's press officers, along and his wife, Bonnie Stone - she's not related to the Hollywood Stones, "although all the store keepers seem to think so," she explains.