Sincere or insincere - that was the question at the opening of Martin Crimp's version of Molière's The Misanthrope at the Gate this week.
There were no frowns or brutal truths to be seen on any faces: it was all love and affection between friends.
Neil Jordan, whose film, The Good Thief, premières next Tuesday in Dublin, with proceeds from the evening going to the Merchant's Quay Project, chatted to producer John Erraught, actor Liam Cunningham and entrepreneur Robbie Wootton, who says a new Spirit nightclub similar to the one he's involved in on Dublin's Middle Abbey Street, will be opening in Manhattan this summer.
Fergus Linehan, director of the Dublin Theatre Festival, was just back from seeing his mother, Rosaleen Linehan, perform in another Molière play, Tartuffe, in New York's Roundabout Theatre, directed by Joe Dowling. With him at The Misanthrope was Cork woman Maura O'Keeffe, who is currently working at The Ark in Temple Bar on a play for children (opening in mid-March) called The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish.
Erin Darcy, who is working on a new feature film with writer Hugh O'Donnell, was there with her mother, Annie Cartwright.
The up-coming film, which is in pre-production planning, she says, is a story of revenge set around the game of polo.
The Misanthrope runs until Saturday, March 15th.