Nudity in Robber Bridegroom?
Melanie Lynch
Amherst) is adamant about having a nude scene in Robber Bridegroom. To
be honest, I was surprised to hear this since the theatre is still
considered local community theatre and has never had a reputation for
being avant garde or experimental. I admit to being unfamiliar with the
show although I do know most of the music. How often does this issue
come up with other productions of RB? I know the young lady who would be
doing the scene, and while she is what her boyfriend described as a
"comely wench" (what a guy), I just can't see the blue haired set
sitting still for this one. They damn near had conniptions when Desire
appeared in a corset during ALNM. Of course, those were the ones
remaining after the first wave walked out saying "they didn't tell us
this was an opera".
--
Melanie
Ludlow29
I was surprised to hear this since the theatre is still
considered local community theatre and has never had a reputation for
being avant garde or experimental. I admit to being unfamiliar with the
show although I do know most of the music. How often does this issue
come up with other productions of RB? I know the young lady who would be
doing the scene, and while she is what her boyfriend described as a
"comely wench" (what a guy), I just can't see the blue haired set
sitting still for this one.
+++++
I was production assistant on the original workshop of THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM.
Much of the stage business was improvised by the original actors. The nudity,
involving Rosamund, just seemed to evolve out of a woodland scene found in the
Eudora Welty novella, on which the show is based. In the scene, Rosamund is
glimpsed naked by Jaimie Lockhart. Rhonda Coullet, who originated Rosamund, had
already appeared in the buff in HAIR and had no trouble doing Rosamund's scene
that way. In fact, in the original workshop, there were two scenes featuring
nudity (The second "nudity scene" was eliminated in the final version of THE
ROBBER BRIDEGROOM). True to the ending of Eudora Welty's book, the villainess
Salome (originated by Susan Berger) danced naked under the burning sun
(actually Susan just went topless) until she died of exhaustion.
Anyway, I believe nudity has become optional in subsequent productions of THE
ROBBER BRIDEGROOM. I know Patti LuPone showed everything (in the touring
Acting Company version). But body stockings have been used when actresses had
qualms. In addition, Rosamund is supposed to possess long flowing hair to
cover up her points of interest.
Manmade954
from high school to regional theatre. I have always seen the nude scene handled
with some type of characatured humor. The one that stands out in my mind the
most is one production which has Rosamund strip down to a camisole and bloomers
-- and then when the Bandit of the Woods tells her to take off everything, two
of the chorus members bring out a quilt, and hold it in front of her. on the
front of the quilt is appliqued a nude female torso with fig leaves in all the
right places. Rosamund wraps it around her, and does the scene regarding the
nudity in this "sarong". It's a fun but effective way to deal with the story.
And since the entire story is being acted out by the people at the "hoe down"
it works quite well. I know of a production of this show in the summer that
will use some version of this "diversion" . I don't think that actual nudity
is mandatory to the story.
Jason Travis
"Manmade954" <manma...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19991120213942...@ng-xa1.aol.com...
That's just damn clever, and almost more entertaining than actual nudity.
Kind of like the nude scene in CITY OF ANGELS which is more funny and erotic
because you don't see her.
Melanie Lynch
What's really scary is that the theatre that is doing the production is in the
round and seats perhaps 250 people at the most. You are never more than 20 feet
away from the farthest audience member and the front rows are right at the edge
of the stage floor. Talk about your up close and personal!
--
Melanie
Kafritz1
<< In addition, Rosamund is supposed to possess long flowing hair to cover up
her points of interest. >>
May I suggest, you call a lady's chest a chest, instead of her points of
interest?
; )
Ludlow29
Ludlow 29 wrote:
; )
+++++
You get a star--if I can buy you one.
Noel
>interest?
Dainty, ain't he?
Karen Horn
: Ludlow 29 wrote:
:
: << In addition, Rosamund is supposed to possess long flowing hair to cover up
: her points of interest. >>
: May I suggest, you call a lady's chest a chest, instead of her points of
: interest?
:
: ; )
:
:
Well, ludlow is usually titillating.
Karen
Jason Travis
"Noel" <noel...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19991121134408...@ng-fn1.aol.com...
> >May I suggest, you call a lady's chest a chest, instead of her points of
> >interest?
>
He was shy and awful modest, he was so high bred
When the wind blew up my bloomers, did his face get red!
He undressed with all the lights off, untill we was wed...
He had refinement!
Ludlow29
of Shirley Booth in the altogether?
Kafritz1
on that one? I've read the script, which is really very solid, even though the
show's main flaw comes screaming out. (Shirley Booth's material as Cissy is so
funny and she must have been so wonderful in it that no one wanted to return to
the rather glum, but poignant main story at hand). Still, the score is a
winner and with a restrained performance in the role of Cissy, I would imagine
the show would seem more balanced. ATGIB is like the Rodgers & Hammerstein
show they never wrote...even down to the slightly clunky ensemble number,
"That's How It Goes" that opens the second act in true "Real Nice
Clambake"/"Western People Funny" fashion.
Jason Travis
a revival. We did it in the round, and cut it from a gigantic dream-ballet
show to an intimate ensemble piece with 15 people. We cut the "clambake"
wannabe song, and also "Tuscaloosa" which was also cut in the original as
its only reason for being was for the leading lady to change. The music is
wonderful. I *hate* old school book shows, and this one really grew on me.
The bit of farce about Cissy faking a pregnancy and birth is a great scene
that I'm sure had to be quite racy in its time.
"Kafritz1" <kafr...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19991124074547...@ng-fx1.aol.com...