THERE was more than the usual degree of "the ritual of naming" going on at the" Abbey on Wednesday night as the Names of Letters mustered, to watch the naming dramatics on stage and off, at the opening night of Brian Friel's Translations.
The name himself was not in attendance, although his wife Ann Friel was down from the Maiden City for the night. Also down from the North was Belfast singer Andy White, husband of actress Ali White, the auburn haired beauty on stage playing Maire.
Professor of English letters Nicholas Greene of Trinity supped at the bar while upstairs in the rehearsal room, the Vice President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, was thronged by such professional language moulders as Joan Burton TD, Mary O'Rourke TD and Minister Niamh Bhreathnach. US ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith and Lord Mayor of Dublin Brendan Lynch were also there.
Play director Robin Lefevre wasn't at the performance. In the bar after the show, the Scotsman explained "I never go to opening nights. I've done my work now and it's the audience's property. I was at the Michael Collins thing and that went really well," he said.
Mr Friel, who prefers to avoid the madding crowd on his plays' opening nights, was at home in Derry or Doire, but what's in a name?
