The Minnesota smoking ban continues to inspire theatrics of all kinds. In spite of the Health Overseers threatening to fine proprietors $10,000 for having ‘theatre nights,” the anti-smoking ban folks are getting more clever than ever.

At The Rock earlier this week, a black stage curtain covered part of the entrance, and a sign next to it with an arrow read, “Stage Entrance.” Along the opposite wall, below a sign saying “Props Dept.,” was a stack of the only props needed: black ashtrays.

At the door was a printed playbill for that night’s program, with a list of names of the people portraying bartenders and security guards. Playing the owner: “Brian.”

Courtney Conk paid $1 for a button that said “Act Now” and pinned it to her shirt. That made her an actor for the night, entitling her to smoke. She turned in an understated, minimalist performance, sitting with cigarette in hand and talking to a bass player with the band.

…One bar on northern Minnesota’s Iron Range, the Queen City Sports Place, calls its nightly smokefest “The Tobacco Monologues.”

When the ban went into effect, revenues at eating and drinking establishments took a nosedive immediately. Those proprietors who have theatre nights say business has returned to normal, but without out it, they will likely go out of business. I can’t think of a better way to further plague the economy of the Rust Belt Midwest, which is burdened enough with antiquity, unemployment, declining wages, and generally, a depression.