Pressed and Repressed

I always enjoy performing, but some weeks are just better than others. Whilst life on the road is a continual roller coaster, sometimes the hills are high enough to erase the memory of the valleys, without resorting to traditional over-the-counter amnesia inducements. Great weeks, like the one I recently completed in Minneapolis, are the reasons why I got into this business in the first place.

I engaged in a little civil disobedience the week I was there. Minneapolis recently became one of the newest cities to be attacked by the well moneyed anti-smoking lobby. Several "non-profit" entities like the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society have been running a multi-million dollar propaganda campaign to convince Minnesotans that second-hand smoke is deadlier than poverty.

Those who draw their extravagant salaries from corporate funded non-profit organizations have little regard for working class people, whose jobs are threatened by smoking bans. Since the passage of the non-smoking ordinance, 37 Minneapolis bars and restaurants have closed their doors forever. This has caused a subsequent wave of unemployment in the hospitality industry, and ripples have been felt throughout the regional economy. I thought it was time someone spoke up for the little guys.

Since I am a performer, I am allowed certain liberties on stage. For instance if smoking is part of a theatrical performance, it cannot be banned without putting the first amendment in jeopardy. I know that sounds somewhat ridiculous, but if the Supreme Court has decided that setting a flag on fire is protected speech, the same constitutional protections must extend to a cigar.

By stretching the extent of the stage (or for those of a theatrical background, expanding the fourth wall into the audience) I was able to allow at least one last smoking show at Acme Comedy Company in Minneapolis. I would have done it all week, but I have to confess, there was so much smoke in that room Thursday night, that even an old aficionado like myself found the atmosphere quite unbearable.

Thanks to the crack staff at Acme, my little stunt became quite the topic of conversation. Here's an article that the Star Tribune wrote about the event. I also made the 10 O'clock News! Here are clips in MPEG and WMV.

Meanwhile an old friend, Maura Flynn, who is working on a documentary about the smoking bans decided to capture the event. Here's an article about the documentary (registration required).