"DON JUAN"opening night

The Shakespeare Theatre Company's Lansburgh Theatre January 30

THE EVENT
The opening night of the Shakespeare Theatre Company's production of Molière's "Don Juan."

THE SCENE
Pre-show buzz was trumped by intermission cha er as patrons wondered what would become of Don Juan (Jeremy Webb).... Would he ever let go of his philandering, self-serving ways? At the post-performance reception, conversation turned to praise for the technical quality of the production (the classical sets, staging, costumes, and foot lighting were superb) and the skilled execution of the French playwright's rapid-fi re, language-laden text, which Michael Milligan (Sganarelle) handles with particular aplomb. See it before closing night on March 19th.

THE GUESTS
French Ambassador Jean-David Levi e, journalist Maureen Dowd, Shakespeare Theatre Company artistic director Michael Kahn, composer Stephen Schwartz ("Wicked,""Pippi"), actress Paige Davis (formerly of TLC's Trading Spaces), cast members and theatre patrons.

Maureen Dowd, Michael Kahn and Andy Reynolds	French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte (right) and Landon Butler

AndrewActor Patrick Page, Stephen Schwartz and Paige Davis s	Laura Kenny as Mathurine, Jeremy Webb as Don Juan and Laura Heisler as Charlotte. Photo by Richard Termine

Stan Collender and Maura McGinn	Michael Milligan as Sganarelle (left) and Jeremy Webb as Don Juan. Photo by Richard Termine

Actor Patrick Page, Stephen Schwartz and Paige Davis

PHOTOS BY ALEXEI AGARYSHEV