Olivia Newton-John signs autographs for fans at the gala presentation of Score: A Hockey Musical at the 35th Toronto International Film Festival.MIKE CASSESE
In what was otherwise a love fest for Canadiana and hockey, the opening gala crowd Thursday night was sure smitten with a certain Australian star. It all started outside.
The crowds of photogs, celebrity watchers and the simply curious were packed four to five deep along the red carpet at Roy Thomson Hall prior to the gala presentation of Score: A Hockey Musical. Every time another limo pulled up, everyone craned their necks, asking "Is that Olivia Newton-John?" And every time the crowd slumped back down when it was only George Stroumboulopoulos or one of the other Canadian celebrities who had cameos in the film. A publicist had to shout to the crowd: "I'll tell you when she's coming!"
That anticipation continued during the lengthy introductions in the theatre before the film, from Heritage Minister James Moore's brief speech about the importance of cultural funding ("Any government that doesn't have a strong amount of support for the arts is a government that doesn't have a plan for a strong economy," Moore said) to the thanks given to TIFF programmers by Score's director Michael McGowan.
Then he got to introducing his collaborators and cast. Hawksley Workman, who helped write the film's songs, got a strong hand from the audience. He got another one after the film when he returned on stage to perform the film's theme Hockey (The Greatest Game) with a children's choir. Nelly Furtado, who also had a cameo in the film, got strong applause during the intros. But McGowan knew what the crowd wanted. "She came," he said knowingly to the expectant audience. "I still can't believe she wanted to be in a hockey musical. Please welcome one of the nicest people I've ever met and Canada's newest hockey mom: Olivia Newton-John!" And there she was, blond hair and flowing gown, like it was 1978 all over again.