I started this thread last year about my daughter Mandy and the ethical/moral questions I had about her appearing naked in Hair and What the Butler Saw while she was in college, and with her being relatively fine (albeit a little embarrassed) about her family and friends seeing her bare all. This fall she will be in a new play--Ken Ludwig's "Lend Me a Tenor". It is a relatively tame farse about a case of mistaken identity. However, there is a scene in which 2 girls run around in their underwear. Because the play takes place in the 30s, the period costumes intrigued Mandy. Appearing in lingere was not a big deal until the director, a man in his 30s, took Mandy and another actress aside and said that he wanted them to dress as provocatively as possible because once the reviews come out, it will attract a larger audience (the theater company has not been doing well financially). Specifically he proposed sheer bra and panties. To protect the girls' modesty, he said he would have the stage lights dimmed somewhat, but the scene requires them to run around. I'm concerned about the ethical issues here--is it right for a director to ask young girls in a community theater to bare their bodies to raise money for the company? Also, my wife asked Mandy about her "costume". The bra and panties are see-through and even in dim light the audience will see her nipples and mound. I'm sure the director will enjoy working with the girls! Believe me, I'm not crazy about the idea of my friends seeing my daughter in sexy see-through underwear. And finally there's me. I admit to a double standard here. I would love to see the other actress in her bra and panties--she's a 25 year-old gorgeous blond, and the daughter of an acquaintance. Of course, if I see her on stage, it would also mean seeing my daughter in a similar state of undress, all but nude. For her part, my daughter said she'd be embrarassed to appear in her underwear, but she's trying to make it in theater, and this would be an important part for her. She says she is okay with her parents seeing her bare her body because she feels she is in character--it's not really her up on stage. Does anyone have any experience with this type of situation or can provide some guidance?
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