KENNESAW - A sellout crowd watching the opening night of ``The Grapes of Wrath'' at Kennesaw State University took in stride the brief scenes of nudity that had led to student protests before it was staged. <br>
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About 500 students had petitioned the theater department, demanding a ban on nudity in all campus productions because of the two scenes featuring either full-frontal or partial nudity in the adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel. <br>
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Other than the audience of 300 Tuesday night, only one protester came out for the first show. <br>
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``The Bible talks about women dressing in modest apparel,'' said Kay Christensen of Kennesaw, who tried to sway those entering the theater against attending. ``This is not modest. You've got to stop it somewhere. Someone has got to speak out.'' <br>
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The play by Frank Galati won the Tony Award in 1990. It follows the journey of the Joad family from the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma to the false promise of a better life in California. <br>
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Midway through the first act, the character of Al Joad stripped at the edge of the stage with his back to the audience. Then he quickly turned and jumped into a tub of water in the orchestra pit. <br>
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The character Rose of Sharon bared her breasts for a few seconds in the final moments of the play, partially shielded by a quilt. The actress portrayed breast-feeding a man to save his life by drawing the actor's head under the quilt. <br>
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The show will continue through Sunday.
