Sunday, August 06 2006
UNITED KINGDOM - Mel Smith became the first performer at the Edinburgh Fringe to defy Scotland's smoking ban yesterday.
The comedian, who is playing Winston Churchill in Allegiance, puffed on a cigar while on stage during a photo call at the Assembly Rooms. He ignored calls from his producer not to light up.
Smith, who is a cigar smoker off-stage, criticised the law banning smoking in public places. He said: "It would have delighted Adolf Hitler. Congratulations, Scotland." He suggested that the audience could be warned before the show: "A third of a Romeo y Julieta will be smoked during this performance. If you find that offensive, f*** off."
Brian Gilbert, the show's director, said that he would not intervene if Smith wanted to smoke. "He hates the ban," he said. "A little bit of smoke is not going to jeopardise people's health. If you're out on the street you get much worse from the pollution."
The ban, part of the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005, came into force in March.
Daniel Jules, Smith's producer, said that he had tried using stage cigars, but they were unconvincing. "It is so much a part of the character," he said.
Edinburgh City Council has warned the Assembly Rooms that it faces fines of up to £5,000, and could lose its entertainment licence. William Burdett Coutts, the theatre owner, said that the venue, producers and Smith could all be fined.
One theatre owner told performers that he would support their right to smoke. Tomek Borkowy, of the Hill Street Theatre, said the ban reminded him of the censorship he experienced while living in Poland during the Cold War. No one from Edinburgh City Council was available for comment.
The Fringe also hosted Kylie Minogue's first appearance on stage since she underwent treatment for cancer, in an impromptu performance on Saturday night.
The singer joined in a dance routine with the stars of Havana Rumba! after she was pulled up on stage by Toby Gough, her friend and the show's producer. Minogue gave an exuberant performance in front of 400 people at St George's West.
She is in Edinburgh to support Finding Marina, a music and dance show by children affected by the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004.
Source: TIMESONLINE in the UK, as reported by Jack Malvern
Published: August 7, 2006
