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Churchill's cigar snuffed out
08/08/2006 11:21 - (SA)
Edinburgh - Scotland snuffed out Winston
Churchill's famous cigar at the Edinburgh Fringe arts festival on Monday.
Actor Mel Smith, playing the British wartime leader in a new
play, decided not to defy Scotland's tough new anti-smoking laws after officials had threatened to close down the theatre if he lit up.
In March, a sweeping new ban came into force in Scotland in
a bid to change a lifestyle of heavy drinking and smoking.
Smith, portraying Churchill in Allegiance, complained that
he did not want to become a victim of political correctness, and
actually did light a cigar during a photocall for the play,
according to the BBC.
Artistic director William Bourdett-Coutts said Smith had
talked about defying the ban, but did not want to see the whole
theatre close down.
"When it is so much about a historical character and it is
integral to the script, (the law) is somewhat foolish," he said.
"This is the biggest and oldest festival in the world and the
fact that one can't do something like this is crazy."
The audience seemed not to mind.
"It really didn't matter that he didn't light up. It didn't
spoil the play for me," said theatregoer Sheila Rait.
- Reuters
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South Africa
