The Broadway opening of Martin McDonagh's The Beauty Queen of Leenane was one of those classic New York theatre nights that brings out both the industry stalwarts and the celebrities. The playwright has already won two of the coveted Lucille Lortel awards in his US debut. The play, which was running off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theatre, was so successful that it moved to the Walter Kerr Theatre this month, and is tipped for the Tony Awards.
In the green room after a splendid performance on Thursday night, McDonagh and the play's cast received messages of congratulation from both the President, Mrs McAleese, and President and Mrs Clinton. Later, there was a lavish party at Manhattan's Supper Club, where about 700 luminaries from the New York stage, film and television worlds gathered to celebrate, and the Mayor of Galway, Mr Michael Leahy, presented gifts of Galway crystal to the cast and described the Druid Theatre Company as "ambassadors of Irish theatre, of Galway, and of Ireland."
"It's quite magical to see a Druid production on Broadway," said Mick Lally, one of the founders of Druid, as director Garry Hynes raised a toast to the cities of New York and Galway, and received a standing ovation.
Marie Mullen, sitting beside her husband, Sean McGinley, pointed out that the move to the bigger theatre was an easy transition, since the company has played in equally large theatres in London and Australia.
Andrew Shearer of Bonneau Bryan, Brown, the public relations firm which is promoting the play, said: "The move to Broadway is crucial at this time, which is awards season. It has already been nominated for five Outer Critics Circle awards, and after that you have the Drama Desk awards, and then of course there are the Tony Awards in June."
Also present at the party were the Irish Consul General, Mr Barrie Robinson; Ciaran Benson, chairman of the Irish Arts Council; Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Noel Pearson, Terry George, Marie Breathnach, Jerome Hynes, Milo and Kitty O'Shea, Ruaidhri Conroy, John Hedigan, Elizabeth Whyte, and other members of the Irish artistic community in New York. Actor Brian F. O'Byrne, who has worked extensively in New York, was delighted with the move, describing the Broadway audience response as "hugely warm".
The American actress Jennifer Aniston of Friends fame, whose new film The Object of My Affection has just opened in New York, said: "I think it is a wonderful play. It brings a new element to Irish theatre."
The Beauty Queen of Leenane will run at the Walter Kerr Theatre with the Druid cast, by special courtesy of New York Actors' Equity, until October. It has already brought in $1.2 million (£857,000) in advance ticket sales.