The Social Network

By James Gibbons

Baby dances out of the corner

Glenda Gilson was one of the first to arrive at the Grand Canal Theatre for Dirty Dancingon Thursday evening. She said she loves Dirty Dancing– the movie – and used to watch it and Greaseafter school. She brought along her mother, Aileen. Since nobody puts Baby in the corner, Glenda had a prime seat.

Harry Crosbie was at pains to announce that the theatre has “hugely exceeding business plans”. Whatever about it being in the black, it was certainly in the pink on Thursday. There were pink floodlights, pink balloons and pink programmes.

Kathleen Watkins arrived with Gay Byrne who had recovered from his chest infection. It was a return of something he had last June, “only not quite as severe”. Watkins quipped that it didn’t deter his drinking of hot whiskeys.

Aonghus McAnally and his wife Billie Morton were accompanied by McAnally’s mother, the actor Ronnie Masterson. Aonghus is up for two Iftas on February 11th for his documentary Ray McAnally: M’Athair, for Best Documentary and Best Irish Language Programme.

It was the first time at the Grand Canal Theatre for RTÉ's John Murray, so hectic is his schedule. His wife Miriam Donohoe, a former journalist with The Irish Times, is busy preparing for Showcase Ireland, which opens tomorrow. Mairéad Farrell of the Ray D'Arcy Show on Today FM is training to run a half-marathon on April 22nd as part of the Aviva Get Fit Action Plan. She said she was training hard and was having her first drink of the new year on Thursday.

FM 104’s Sean Munsanje brought along two friends, Ciara Lefroy and Claire Jackson, from Dundrum. RTÉ children’s TV presenter Diana Bunici, who is from Moldova, was not allowed to watch Dirty Dancing when she was younger and was looking forward to seeing the stage performance with her friend Michelle Hennessy, from Cabra. Hennessy used to watch the film at least 10 times a year.

The producer of the show, Karl Sydow, who is staying in the Westbury with his wife Anita for three days, said that “Irish audiences are absolutely fantastic. The emotion and tension in the air is palpable.”

The air was also tense in the foyer. Four women ran over to “talk to” Joe Duffy and captured the moment on their smartphones.

Four younger women ran over to the boxer Bernard Dunne. His wife Pamela didn’t seem to mind. “Sure I’ve done it myself elsewhere and ran up to Matthew Perry.” Dunne forsook a night playing football with his friends in Finglas “to accompany the wife”.

Who we spottedPat and Cathy Kenny, with daughters Nicole and Kristina; Miriam Ahern and Terry McCoy; Gillian Quinn with her two sisters, Valerie Roe and Patricia Roe; TV3's Elaine Crowley; and the model Daniella Moyles.

Better late late than never for old songs

Gay Byrne had a terrible chest infection this week and couldn't make it to Jim Doherty and Honor Heffernan's concert We're Old-Fashioned: Songs from the Roaring Thirtiesin the John Field Room of the National Concert Hall on Wednesday evening. He sent his regrets.

Doherty was musical director of The Late Late Showfor 10 years and is also a bit of a comedian, judging by his patter during the performance. He quoted Dorothy Parker: "If you want to know what God thought about money, just look at the people he gave it to."

Doherty's son, the comedian David O'Doherty, who won the if.comedy award for best show at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2008, arrived just in time for the concert. Doherty's other son, Mark, couldn't attend as he was across town acting in the Abbey's production of The Government Inspector.

Doherty dropped the O' from his name decades ago. His uncle, Mgr Feichin O'Doherty, was professor of logic and psychology in the former UCD building at Earlsfort Terrace, the same location as Doherty was playing in.

This is the ninth year of Doherty and Heffernan's We're Old-Fashionedseries, which is always popular. Dave Fleming and Myles Drennan made up the Jim Doherty trio.

Who we spottedThe actor Susannah de Wrixon; Gerry Larchet, whose father Prof John F Larchet was professor of music at UCD and the first director of music at the Abbey; and Jim Doherty's wife, Ann, who arrived from Ballsbridge with her friend Annette Whelan, from Stillorgan.

What we heardFoot tapping.

What we drankWe paid for our own at the bar.

Family-friendly affair

Dylan Haskins took some time out from finishing his dissertation for his history of art course at Trinity College Dublin to attend The Familyby THEATREclub at the Project Arts Centre on Tuesday evening. He was accompanied by Niamh Farrell, who performs under the moniker The Danger Is.

Haskins sits on the board of the Project and stood as an Independent candidate in Dublin South-East at the last general election.

The Gate Theatre's Michael Colgan arrived with Louisa Carroll and gave the performance his imprimatur. He told me that Daopens at the Gate on February 7th and stars Owen Roe.

He also seemed excited about My Cousin Rachel, which is based on the novel by Daphne du Maurier and has been adapted by Joseph O'Connor. It premieres on April 12th.

Colgan caught up with Annabelle Comyn, who is director-in-residence at Project. She directed Shaw's Pygmalionat the Abbey last year. This summer she will be directing The House, by Tom Murphy, at the Abbey.

The new artistic director of Project, Cian O'Brien, welcomed the actor Nick Lee, who flew in from London for the opening. He's currently in Juno and the Paycockat the National Theatre in London.

Matt Torney, associate director of Rough Magic, said he was looking forward to Neil Simon's Plaza Suite at the Gaiety, which will run for the final two weeks of February. It consists of three short plays, each one with a different director. Torney will be directing Stephen Brennan and Eleanor Methven.

Valerie O'Connor will also be appearing in Plaza Suite. She was joined on Tuesday evening by her friend Aoibhín Garrihy, who plays Neasa in Fair City.

Emma Fraser, costume designer for The Family, runs a vintage shop in Temple Bar called 9 Crowe Street. She was on the lookout for any 1950s pieces that passed through her store for the performance. She caught up with Grace Dyas, from the Liberties, who is a founding member of THEATREclub and the director of The Family.

To boldly go to the Phil

Eoin O'Liatháin, the president of the Philosophical Society (the Phil) at Trinity College Dublin, told me that as well as Nancy Pelosi and Hugh Laurie addressing the society in Spring, they have also received confirmation that Sir Patrick Hewes Stewart aka Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek will address the society in May.

The Phil, founded in 1683, kicked off the new year on Thursday evening with the motion "That this house would keep the baby". It transpired that this house would not keep the baby and would be pro-choice.

The society found itself embroiled in controversy before Christmas when, due to a threat of violence, it was forced to cancel the appearance of Nick Griffin, MEP chair of the British National Party. Mr Griffin was to appear in support of the motion: That Immigration has gone too far.

The nearest thing to violence on Thursday evening was the minor rush to the drinks reception after the debate and more importantly, to the table which was laid out with canapés and the like.

They're proud that, so far this academic year, they've played host to Courtney Love, Eddie Jordan, Terry Pratchett and Sir Christopher Lee. The society appears to be going back to the sartorial elegance of the past. O'Liatháin tied his own bow tie, while Lorcan Clarke, secretary of the society, opted for white tie.

Who we spottedDebates convenor David Byrne, who was a finalist in the world debating championships in Manila in December; Lydia Rahill, Kit Connolly and Glen Rogers of the society; guest speakers Dr Peter Williams of the Catholic Voices organisation; and Marian Bennett of the Council of Irish Adoption Agencies.