On the Town:'I've been 25 years listening to all these people singing at parties. It's taken me that long to put them all on stage together - but it's basically all my mates up there," said Michael Colgan, director of the Gate Theatre, as the curtain rose on its new production, Stephen Sondheim's musical masterpiece, Sweeney Todd, with an all-Irish cast.
If the rapturous standing ovation when the curtain fell was anything to go by, it appears the audience felt the show had been worth the wait. Among those mesmerised by it were couturier and self-confessed "Stephen Sondheim anorak" Peter O'Brien, who immediately vowed to return for more performances, while actor David Kelly was equally delighted.
"I think it is spectacular, yet another marvellous first for the Gate. A complete departure for them, and another absolute winner," he enthused.
The broadcaster and chairman of the Road Safety Authority, Gay Byrne, who was there with his wife, Kathleen Watkins, said he was "completely knocked out" by the performances from luminaries such as Anita Reeves, Mark O'Regan, and David Shannon, who plays the demon barber of the title.
Meanwhile, Neil Hannon, of The Divine Comedy, revealed during the interval that he is currently writing a musical for the Royal National Theatre in London.
Celebrity chef Kevin Dundon and composer Roger Doyle were also in attendance for the glittering opening night, as was actor Alison Doody, who summed up the spirit of an entertaining evening.
"I thought the performances, the direction, the whole production, was just superb," she said. "Michael Colgan has done it again!"