New York Times: "HAND me a cigarette ..., lover,” Martha says to her conquest Nick in the second act of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” The stage directions then read: “He lights it for her. As he does, she slips her hand between his legs.”"
9 comments:
Having lit cigarettes on stage dose not seem worth all this legal action. Especially when there are alternatives that can produce the same effected with out really smoke. When it comes to fighting for freedom of expression rights you should pick your battles. Smoking on stage doesn’t seem to be one of great importance. This could be a chance for prop departments to come up with some new innovations to solve the problem.
-Ryan Hewlett
Agree with Ryan. good comment!
Some theatres are so huge. The smoke can't even fly to 1st row of audience. The more important thing is if non-smorking actors are willing to smoke on stage for the art. Sometimes the government officials are bored. There are still many things needing to be more taken care other than smoking on stage.
And we all know the foggy is maybe worse than tobacco. Yet the officials don't know it, they can't be against it.
The playwriters need to note this ban, as well, before they have a character smoked.
'Coz, "the character" won't be allowed to do it on stage.
Yi-Lin
I have to agree that these laws are a bit over zealous. But I disagree with Ryans comment "Smoking on stage doesn’t seem to be one of great importance", it is in fact, in many productions, of great theatrical significance. And while Ryan states we should pick our battles, we should pick this one. We didnt need to fight to have nudity in "Hair", but it is a different production without, I do wonder where these laws will put us, is it possible they will extend this to outlaw atmospheric fog and haze? Fire on stage? We need to stop this before it begins.
-Kim Allen-Poole
I'm not sure what to say about this ruling...yes in some cases it is important to the story to portray smoking...yet in other cases it's completely unnecessary and almost distracts mainly because smoking is such a restricted thing in so many citites today, it is almost shocking to see someone smoke inside on a stage...i agree with ryan...look for some new props...the challenege is ours for the taking...
When I was working in Miss Saigon, there were so many smoking scenes that I had to order herbal cigarettes almost weekly. We also had Kim lighting a candle, which involved the entire costume and props fire proof sprayed. It evoked some of the problems between the actors, because some of them felt uncomfortable smoking, even if it was herbal, and they smell like dead fish. So it later became like a joke if you need a cigarette break, just walk on the stage at show time.
I think that smoking on stage can definitely be necessary in certain productions. A lot, if not most of the shows I see do have someone smoking. If there is a problem with tobacco, the herbal cigarettes seem to be a perfectly fine alternative.
Now as a non-smoker and someone who hates smoke, smoking on stage does not bother me in the least. As far as it being "freedom of expression" I don't see it as that. But for me it's such a non-issue that even having to come out and call it that or fight for/against it seems just unnecessary.
I wonder what their policy on fog machines is....
I've never seen a problem with smoking onstage. I feel like there may be more behind these laws than the health issues. There are so many shows where that effect is needed, and fake cigarettes take you out of the moment so quickly it's ridiculous.
I have to say that I personally do not approve of smoking on stage under any circumstances. There are plenty of ways to fudge a cigarette. I can just see issues with actors, where if they refuse to smoke on stage.....this could lead to whether they are hired again....I just feel that this can lead to pressuring actors. I don't know....i just find smoking to be the most repulsive thing ever.
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