The Scene: Wednesday night’s party for the...

The Scene: Wednesday night’s party for the Renaissance Theatre Company, the British repertory troupe that is presenting “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “King Lear” at the Mark Taper Forum. After a performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” guests drove or walked the few blocks to the Wells Fargo building, where a buffet reception had been set up at the City Club on the 54th floor. Thanks to this week’s rains, the clear cold night and spectacular view of the city lights made L.A. look almost livable.

The Buzz: Theatergoers seemed excited that a rep company of such international stature had landed in town for two months before going on to Tokyo and Australia. And the entire run was sold out last week, proving that Angelenos will go to the theater to see something besides adults dressed as giant felines or French revolutionaries.

Who Was There: RTC director Kenneth Branagh and producer David Parfitt joined the cast and actors Lloyd Bridges, Jane Carr, Michael Crawford, Jessica Harper, Amy Irving, Dale Kristien, Rue McClanahan, Vincent Price, Lynn Redgrave, Brenda Vaccaro, and Alfre Woodard. Also there were officials from the Center Theatre Group board of directors and AT&T;, which underwrote the party (and took a lot of teasing for the fact that its long-distance systems went haywire on Monday).

Dress Code: Somewhere between corporate and gala. Cast members showed up midway through the party in nice suits, looking freshly scrubbed and hungry.

Chow: Shish kebab, ravioli, mushroom caps, fresh vegetables, fondue, champagne, and, in deference to British tastes, winter ale and hot tea.

Noted: The fur coat, that politically incorrect garment of the ‘90s, was in scant evidence, despite Civic Center temperatures in the low 40s. Since Wednesday was one of the few nights of the year when Angelenos might really consider wearing mink or sable for practical rather than aesthetic reasons, perhaps fur coat owners are now the real endangered species.

Quoted: Gordon Davidson explaining away AT&T;’s long-distance problems on Monday: “I have absolute verification of the fact that these were all people calling L.A., trying to get tickets for the Renaissance Theatre Company.”

Triumphs: The Mark Taper Forum, in its never-ending search for downtown locations for its after-parties, found a good one at the City Club. It’s close, comfortable, and elegant enough to host CTG supporters.

Glitches: A dining room had been set up down the hall from the party, but it went unused all evening as guests ate standing near the buffet, shaking hands while they tried to balance plates and drinks.