In Liverpool and London, city councils are about to snuff out stage actors' cigarettes. It doesn't matter if smoking on stage is a necessary part of the character, as is the case with Algernon Moncrieff in 'The Importance of Being Earnest,' or with Mrs. Robinson in the stage adaptation of 'The Graduate,' or with Sherlock Holmes in any number of plays. Lighting up in "enclosed places of work" is a danger because of second-hand smoke, the doctrine says, and the theater that allows even one actor to take a puff onstage will soon face hefty fines.
But almost-impossible-to-detect wisps of smoke are not the only thing motivating people like Mike Storey, the Liberal Democrat leader of Liverpool's city council.
"I would also say that soap operas and plays in which people smoke promote bad role models anyway."
At least he's not blowing smoke up our asses.
[posted by Rogier]
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