Nude play shocks Bible Lady

Press, 28 March 1980, Page 1

Nude play shocks Bible Lady

Mrs Renee Stanton, the “Bible Lady,”- bought a front-row seat for the i Ngaio Marsh Theatre on Wednesday evening and went to see the play, ‘•‘Statements.” She was disgusted. As ■ . «ihe had expected — indeed. as stated clearly in . the play's publicity — the two actors appeared naked. Mrs Stanton • con-s siders this sinful and says that God specifically forbids nakedness except ' when man and wife are alone together. She telephoned the police to complain that the performance was indecent. The police advised her that she would have to go to the station and make the complaint in writing. She also telephoned the Prime Minister’s office. Why did she go to see the play if she knew that 'the performers would be naked? ' “I" thought ' thaf ' there would be just glimpses;’’ - sard Mrs • Stan-' '■ ton. “I thought they would be like, statues, .in . a. dim. light. J didn’t expect .to . see a man standing upright in front of me with ■ every part of his body re- ! vealed.” She said she found it hard to concentrate on the dialogue. She wanted to stand up and shout, “Put 1 your clothes on,” but she : restrained herself. She also wanted to leave during ‘ the performance, but . there was no interval and the theatre was so dark that she could-, not see a way out. She stayed put, but after the show she, went backstage and told'

the two performers that they were being un-Chrk-tian. She told them that she would lay a complaint, but that she would pray for them. Was. she corrupted by the sight of a naked man .and. woman, .on stage? “I could not be corrupted,” said Mrs Stanton. “But the corruptible' will be corrupted.” ' . . ■ -Mrs- Stanton said • she was . not moved by the

play itself. “It left me cold,” she said. “The message of the play, was lost because of the way it was presented.” In spite of her experience at the Ngaio Marsh Theatre, Mrs Stanton bought a ticket for the saucy British comedy, “Confessions of a Wind o w-cleaner.” which played last evening. “If it is as disgusting as it is supposed to be, I will certainly complain about it,” she promised. “It is meant to be funny, but you won’t see me laugh.” This will mark the end of Mrs Stanton’s theatregoing. “These two will be the last,” she said. “I will take other people’s word about plays in future, and they will have to accept my complaints on that basis.” Some people had accused her of attending sexy plays just to get a “cheap thrill,” said -Mrs Stanton, but this was untrue. “I’m 70," she .said, “and I don’t need a cheap thrill.” ■