"Naked Truth" is an adaptation of a project called "Until Someone Wakes Up," a collaboration by Carolyn Levy, a visiting professor at Macalaster College, and her students. The vignettes in "Naked Truth" consists of actual accounts of rape based upon interviews of Levy and her students conducted with rape survivors, perpetrators, loved ones and counselors.
The cast explores sexual violence and its consequences from the perspective of both the victim and the perpetrator through a series of vivid vignettes. The show opens with a Greek chorus that expresses the conflicted feelings, fears and sense of hopelessness many rape victims experience. The succeeding vignettes explores the discombobulating aftermath of sexual violence.
A young woman fears revealing the secret of her rape to someone else, even a loved one. "No one will ever tell me, 'It's not your fault," she says. A young man raped by his closest friend felt betrayed. Another woman describes feelings of powerlessness after being raped by her childhood friend. "I felt like I was getting smaller and smaller," she says. One man expresses self-doubt, "I'm the man. I'm supposed to know when to have the first kiss and I'm supposed to know what to do after the first kiss ... When the truth is, I'm terrified."
Although many of the skits are intense and emotionally charged, some are infused with humor. In one skit, a waiter pouring coffee for a customer does not stop pouring the coffee when the customer asks him to do so, and the overspilled coffee ultimately scalds the customer. The waiter protests, "You certainly looked thirsty. I thought you wanted more." This vignette is a spoof of very serious instances in which the harasser misinterprets the victim's attempts to stop the harasser's unwanted behavior and continues to harass the victim.
An information session detailing community resources and a discussion session led by the actors followed the performance. In response to a question pertaining to the actors' preparation for their roles, Olivia Newton '05E, an actress in the show, recalled the many moments of vulnerability that she experienced while rehearsing. "Most women can say that they have been intruded upon or violated," she said. "Even if these encounters don't turn into anything so extreme, all of these moments add up."
During the post-show discussion, Gretchen Krull, assistant director of health education and sexual assault counselor, emphasized the importance of the resources available on campus that support people as they struggle with relationship issues, notably the Peer Advocates of Sexual Respect. The Peer Advocates are a group of students trained to counsel peers on relationship issues and to promote awareness of the ramifications of sexual disrespect and what constitutes a healthy relationship.
Audience members were profoundly moved by the performance. Student Health Educator Kelly King '08 noted that the performance helped dispel many of the myths surrounding sexual violence. "The skits were an excellent vehicle for addressing issues of masculinity and rape as well as conveying many of the thoughts and emotions survivors of sexual violence live with every day," she said. "The presentation helped dismantle many of the stereotypes generally associated with 'victims' of rape."
Andrew Rubenstein '07 appreciated the insightfulness and creativity of the performance. "It was a very engaging piece, successful in both its brevity and poignancy," he said. "That it was so real made it more compelling. ... It was disappointing, though, that so few people showed up."
In 2005, the U.S. Department of Justice Program to Prevent Violence against Women granted Sexual Assault Prevention and Intervention (SAPIC) funds to foster increased awareness of sexual violence on all Five College campuses. "Naked Truth's" Five College tour is part of the sexual assault awareness initiative funded by the grant.
The UMass Department of Theater produced and directed the show in collaboration with the Five College Committee on SAPIC. Last night's performance at the College marked the last stop on the cast's Five College tour.