Re: Now that I have seen Oklahoma!...

On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 17:20:02 GMT, "Frank Hamilton"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

(top posting corrected)
>> > For the sake of audiences, real smoking should be banned.
>>
>> Um...what harm, exactly, is caused to a member of the audience by an
>> actor lighting up dozens (or in most cases hundreds) of feet away?

>The chemicals in  tobacco smoke are harmful for everyone when exuded from a
>pipe or cigarette in an enclosed space.  Second-hand smoke is harmful if you
>have read the latest developments in medical journals.  It's not if you
>believe in the mendacity of the tobacco industry.

We're talking about an actor smoking a few puffs from one...repeat
*one* cigarette.  Are you trying to tell me that you're actually
concerned about the level of risk to the audience from this act?

I think a little perspective is in order.  By the simple act of
driving to and from the theatre, The audience members will be exposed
to a level of risk *millions* of times greater than that posed by a
faint whiff of tobacco smoke.
>
>If you go into a non-smoking section of a restaurant, a large one at that,
>and there is no wall or barrier between that and a smoking section, the
>smoke travels.  It's also true with a large theater or any enclosed area.
>It's even true of outdoor concerts.

If you're talking about allowing audience members to smoke, you may
have a point.  Fortunately, that's not what we're talking about.

We're speaking in this case about a single actor smoking a single
cigarette for a few puffs.

>It also poses a serious fire hazard in a theater.

Oh, puh-leeze...

Let me get this straight:  you're arguing that the act of smoking a
single cigarette is a "serious fire hazard"?

How in the world did theatres keep from going up in flames by the
droves in the past, pray tell?
>
>Curly, the characterization, is not compromised by omitting this hazard.

In the original novel, Curly smoked.  I'll grant you, it isn't a big
deal if he doesn't...but my first thought when I saw was,
"hey...that's a nice period touch".

Doug