Going like the clappers

STANDING ovations are fairly rare in Irish theatres (unlike on Broadway, where every entrance gets a round of applause and every performance an ovation. As one theatre fan earnestly explained to Michael Colgan in America last year, "we like to ovate").

However, at the end of Donal McCann's mesmerising first night, performance in The Steward Of Christendom at the Gate on, Wednesday night there was a spontaneous and prolonged standing ovation.

Sebastian Barry's play is back in Dublin for 10 weeks, trailing awards from its international run including the hugely prestigious Laurence Olivier Award for best new play. The opening night audience of regular Gate first nighters included PR supremo Mary Finan, who was widely congratulated on her new title as president of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

American country rock singer Mary Chapin Carpenter turned up because she read a glowing review of the play in the New Yorker last year and was delighted that her short visit to Ireland coincided with the opening night. "I never go to the theatre, she said, "But this play is so powerful, you couldn't miss it. Fans will be glad to hear that she'll be back in September with Lyle Lovett for a couple of concert dates.