THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 8, 1995 TAG: 9512080012
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
Regarding ``No smoking at the theater, please'' (letter, Nov. 11):
I'm glad that Ron Pritchard and his wife enjoyed our Virginia Stage Company production of ``Blithe Spirit,'' and I'm sure he'll be happy to know that we've implemented a smoke-free policy for all Wells Theater lobbies. We decided in July to make this change effective at the season's first performance, which, sorry to say, was the night after the private performance Mr. Pritchard attended.
As for our work, we attempt to represent life and people's behavior from a wide range of perspectives. Audiences that hate alcohol and tobacco don't want to see drinking and smoking. Those who favor peace often eschew violence on stage. But it's dishonest to rewrite plays to cater to all tastes, and, anyway, I think that would lead to some pretty dull stories. I'd never choose a play because the characters smoke, but neither would I reject a good play because they do.
``Blithe Spirit'' was picked as a light, entertaining season opener that pokes fun at members of English high society in the 1940s. Performing a Noel Coward play without martinis and cigarettes would be like producing ``Pump Boys and Dinettes'' without guitars and rednecks.
Fortunately, ventilation in the Wells Theater is excellent and drafts toward the stage. Seven of the many cigarettes called for in the script were indeed lit, but only a few puffs were taken from each. You can see what extraordinarily talented actors we have to have given the impression that ``at least two packs'' were smoked. My own smoking during the curtain speech was merely to express personal camradarie with those in our audience who, if they wish to smoke, are now out in the cold . . . with me.
We in the theater have always known that you can't please all the people all the time, though God knows we try. We will in the future put signs in the box office and lobby to inform patrons when cigarettes are smoked onstage. And I look forward to seeing Mr. Pritchard at our holiday production of the entirely smoke-free musical ``Once On This Island.''
CHARLIE HENSLEY
Artistic director
Virginia Stage Company
Norfolk, Nov. 27, 1995 by CNB