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Where there's smoke, there's drama By Zipi Shohat Tags: israel news Last Wednesday's performance of the Habima National Theater production of "August: Osage County" came to a sudden halt midway. That was after one of the spectators in the audience shouted at the star of the play, Gila Almagor, "Stop smoking, the smoke is suffocating me." As a result there was an uproar in the Harrison auditorium in Tel Aviv, where the play was being performed, and other spectators shouted at the complainer to stop. But he continued to complain about the smoke. "August: Osage County" is an American family drama, originally produced in Chicago in 2007, in which Almagor plays the neurotic mother, Violet Weston, who in addition to taking tranquilizers also smokes incessantly. Smoking on the stage is part of the original character created by playwright Tracy Letts. Habima explained that Almagor does not smoke ordinary cigarettes on stage, but rather smokes herbal ones that do not contain nicotine. This decision was made on the advice given to the theater by other theaters that are staging the play on Broadway and in London, and the cigarettes are imported specially. During Wednesday's performance, Almagor did not lose her cool, in spite of the uproar in the auditorium. She approached the front of the stage and turned to the audience. Advertisement "I told them that I myself stopped smoking 15 years ago, but that smoking is an important part of this play and of the role, and that in London and New York they also smoke during this play, and if it bothers someone a great deal he should leave the theater," says Almagor. "Then I added: 'Let's calm down, give us a minute.' I climbed the stairs [of the set], stopped for a moment to recover, came down the stairs and we began the scene again." Almagor's remarks elicited cries from the audience of, "We love you, Gila," and the objecting spectator remained silent. The drama in the theater ended and the play continued. Ilan Ronen, artistic director of Habima, as well as the director of the Hebrew production of "August: Osage County," characterizes the behavior of the audience member as "rudeness," and indicative of a "lack of culture." Ronen suggested that the viewer would have been better off "sending a letter and complaining, as is done by other subscribers and spectators who want to criticize us." In the wake of the incident, the theater management decided to alert viewers in advance that the play includes smoking on stage. Last Thursday, there were already signs to that effect at the entrance to the Harrison auditorium. Bookmark to del.icio.us   IDF warns Gazans The IDF is making every effort to prevent civilian deaths by warning of impending attacks. Pro-Israel rallies Thousands attend pro-Israel rallies across Europe, N.Y.

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