| Who needs to watch movies when you can hobnob with the stars? The Toronto
International Film Festival's opening night was a blast, but I still can't decide
whether the highlight of the evening was when Robert Downey Jr. put his hand on
my shoulder or when John McDermott gave me a noogie. If you think the golden-voiced Irish tenor is a mild-mannered gentleman, have I got a surprise for you. Your grandmother's favourite singer is a wild party animal, which is perhaps fitting given his background as a former newspaperman. Mr. McDermott, who holds a degree in chemical engineering, gave up his day job as circulation manager for the Toronto Sun in the early 1990s, after a recording of his traditional Irish and Scottish songs (a present for his parents' 50th anniversary) found its way to an EMI executive. A former member of the Irish tenors, Mr. McDermott has since gone solo. His albums have sold millions. Old Danny Boy is still singing a happy song, or at least he was when I met up with him and friends on Thursday night, at the Time-sponsored shindig for Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang at the brand new Pur nightclub. I don't know exactly why Mr. McDermott felt it necessary to bend me over and vigorously rub my head, but I think it had something to do with the neon-blue martinis that were flowing quite copiously, or his buddy, Olympic skier Brian Stemmle, for whom he was playing wing man. The two trouble makers rolled in from the premiere with Toronto singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith and his wife, Colleen Hixenbaugh, guitarist for By Divine Right. The entire crew said they very much enjoyed Shane Black's film-noire thriller, which stars Mr. Downey and Val Kilmer. But they weren't too impressed with the club, which turfed us all out when Mr. Sexsmith sat down at the piano (recently vacated by the lovely cabaret singer Sarah Slean) and tried to play a song. Into Mr. McDermott's limousine we all poured, on the search for a grand piano. We ended up at the Spoke Club, which is expected to be a hot spot for celebrity spotting during the festival, seeing how the private establishment is opening its doors to members of the New York and London Soho House. The Spoke doesn't have a piano, but that didn't stop the singing. Irish eyes were definitely smiling. Too bad the poor bartender, who was stuck with us until the wee hours of the morning, didn't find it so amusing. Now back to Mr. Downey, who has just returned from his honeymoon in the south of France with his new bride, producer Susan Levin. I might never again dry clean the suit jacket he touched, but rest assured the former drug-addled convict was on his best behaviour. Mind you, there was a time when producer Joel Silver wasn't sure the supremely talented, but notoriously troubled actor was worth the risk. Mr. Downey only got the part when his friend Mel Gibson called up Mr. Silver and said "The kid's clean. If there's ever a time to help him out, it's now." Co-star Mr. Kilmer said they make a classic team. "He's the Jerry to my Dean." Print this article |
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