Keanu Upstages Hamlet?

At the premiere of the four-hour “Hamlet” the other night at Lincoln Center, the big stars in person were Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Alan Alda and Kathleen Turner (the last two weren’t in the movie, just in the audience). But the celeb who had everybody’s neck craning was dashing, sexy Keanu Reeves. The reluctant screen idol (he turned down the “Speed” sequel!) was there with a tall red-headed beauty. All I could find out was her exotic first name--Acacia.

And actress/party-goer/perennial fixture Sylvia Miles impressed people with her costume, dominated by big white bat-wing sleeves. What at first seemed a fashion risk turned out on closer inspection to be slings supporting plaster casts! Sylvia had fallen and broken both her arms. She said the pain was horrible but she just couldn’t miss this amazing “Hamlet.” (OK, there isn’t much of what goes on in New York that Sylvia would miss. But I was impressed, anyway.)

*

Marianne Faithfull, the pop goddess of “As Tears Go By” and Mick Jagger fame, launches a four-city cabaret tour next month. Faithfull--who survived Mick, changing musical tastes and drug addiction--will appear one night only (Jan. 28) at New York’s Supper Club before embarking on dates in Virginia, Chicago and Miami Beach. She’s promoting her new RCA Victor CD, “20th Century Blues,” in which she interprets Weill, Brecht and Noel Coward.