The Rich And The Famous Cut Up At Sea

That was some lavish blowout that Seattle technomagnate Paul Allen hosted last weekend aboard the Crystal Harmony, voted "World's best cruise ship" by Travel & Leisure magazine readers.

Although wind and rain pelted the 500 guests when they boarded the luxury vessel in Juneau, Alaska, last Friday, most were wearing sunglasses and smiles by the time the Crystal Harmony reached Ketchikan.

Invitees described the guest list as "very upstairs, downstairs," featuring interesting unknowns as well as the rich and famous. Standouts among the latter were Bill and Melinda Gates, actresses Debbie Reynolds and Candice Bergen, moviemaker Francis Ford Coppola, glass artist Dale Chihuly, ex-NBA star Clyde Drexler, author Ivan Doig, actor Robin Williams and musician Quincy Jones.

One memorable moment occurred Sunday when guests lined up for lifeboat drill. While a helicopter hovered alongside filming the lifejacketed assemblage, moviemaker and actress Penny Marshall leaned out over the upper deck railing. Supported by Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia in "Star Wars"), Marshall did a comic rendition of the "king of the world" scene from "Titanic."

Observed one amused guest, "Marshall is quite a cutup."

Off-stage farewell: Organizers had expected about 100 people to attend Tuesday's memorial service for longtime theater worker Robert Diehl. They set out 125 chairs on the Seattle Opera House stage.

To their surprise, more than 300 showed up. Most were fellow workers, come to honor one of their own. Included were such luminaries as Pacific Northwest Ballet's Kent Stowell and Francia Russell, the Seattle Rep's Sharon Ott and Intiman Theatre's Laura Penn.

Diehl, who died July 31 at age 71, bridged an era in this city's cultural life, from vaudeville to "The Nutcracker." He was eulogized as one of those backstage heroes who makes theater possible. Friends say that Hope Diehl, 94, Robert Diehl's mother, was amazed at the turnout. They quoted her as saying, "I had no idea what a success he had been."

Cop out: KPLU-FM's Greg Coe reports spotting a Federal Way Police Department car traveling on Interstate 5 this week with a sign plastered across the vehicle's light bar.

The sign effectively dampened the car's speed-deterring potential. It read: "Out of service."

Tall chefs: Seattle SuperSonics point guard Gary Payton has persuaded teammate Vin Baker to contribute a dinner, cooked by Payton and Baker, to the silent auction at the All-Star Players Party Sept. 12.

The party at NikeTown will fund an endowed scholarship for the United Negro College Fund. Payton pressed Baker - put up or shut up - after Baker bragged about his cooking.

PC or not PC: Seattle City Councilwoman Martha Choe recently conducted an inspection of Seattle Fire Department facilities. She had just finished touring Station No. 13 and was driving with that station's chief en route to Station No. 14.

As the two pulled away, they were stopped by a firefighter who picked that moment to ask the wrong question: "Who's that hot chick you're with?"

Jean Godden's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Her phone message number is 206-464-8300. Her e-mail address is: jgodden@seattletimes.com