Nude Play Bares All To Brooklyn Theater Buffs

PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN — Calling all theater buffs.

The Naked Shakespeare Company — also known as Torn Out Theater — will return to the Prospect Park Pagoda in August to put on a production, but not clothes, of "The Rover" by England’s first professional female playwright Aphra Behn, organizers announced.

“Nudity really heightens the stakes of these plays and brings out a lot of different reactions in our audience,” Managing Director Diana Levy said.

“The contrast between clothing and nudity can throw the conflict between characters into stark relief, exposing their vulnerability or their power.”

Torn Out Theater, known for contrasting costumes with nudity to explore body positivity and “to normalize the naked human form,” first made headlines in 2017 with a nude, all-male production of Hamlet.

This year, the company presents"The Rover," a 17th century play set in Italy during Carnival, that tells the story of European nobility whose inhibitions are set free behind the safety of masks … if not pants.

This will be the company's first mixed-gender and non-Shakespearian production, and was chosen for the unique challenge "The Rover" presented, said director Pitr Strait.

“Our past shows have aimed to use nudity in non-sexual contexts, but 'The Rover' is a play about sexual freedom and romantic relationships,” said Strait.

“Our challenge this year is to combine that portrayal with an exploration of the way that we do sexualize each others’ bodies - with or without consent.”

"The Rover" will run Thursday through Sundays from Aug. 16 until Aug. 26. with weekday performances at 5:30 p.m. and weekend performances at 2 p.m.

No tickets are required for this free production but the company recommends theater-goers arrive 30 minutes before curtain time as seating is first-come-first-served.

Seats on the lawn are free and attendees are welcome to bring picnic blankets and chairs. A limited number of chairs will be available to rent for $7.

The Cast:
Hannah Benjamin as Blunt
Giordano Cruz as Don Pedro
Ryan Desaulniers as Willmore
Colin James Ferguson as Angellica
Alice Gorelick as Moretta
Sarah Elizabeth Grace as Florinda
Tucker Dally Johnston as Don Antonio
Clara Kundin as Hellena
Will Lippman as Belvile
Miranda McCauley as Callis
Andrew Ricks as Frederick

Ensemble:
Angela Dahl
Samantha Fox
Sasha Sigel
Bear Spiegel

Director: Pitr Strait
Assistant Director: Brittany Berke
Intimacy Director: Alicia Rodis
Costumes: Lily Prentice
Props: Tasha Sansbury
Dramaturgy: Cole J. Stern
Fight Director: Lisa Kopitsky
Stage Manager: Mary Harmer.

Photo courtesy of Torn Out Theater