Corralled behind a rope, paparazzi waited for bold-print names to enter the vaulted Cipriani’s on East 42nd Street. The black-tie affair this past April 22 attracted several hundred who paid from $750 to $2,500 to honor Christopher Plummer, recipient of Roundabout Theatre Company’s first Jason Robards Award.
Whoopi Goldberg hosted the evening: “Tonight we’re honoring two icons of the theater world who, through their work and artistry, have moved this singular art form forward.”
Dramatic pause, then, “Who wrote this?!”
It was that kind of evening, filled with tributes and impudence. After the shrimp, came praise for Roundabout by Robert Redford and Bill Haber. After the filet mignon came remembrances of Robards by Natasha Richardson and Eli Wallach. At last, after the mocha mousse cake, came Zoe Caldwell and Julie Andrews.
Ms. Caldwell, once Cleopatra to Plummer’s Antony, delivered a sly speech from As You Like It.