Kickass and nude beach play-

Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper is reminded by the cool weather of the time he and his granddaughter Sarah co-authored, produced and presented “Naked at Amazo,” a three-act play, making the point that the nude beach on the nearby Wisconsin River was an insulting detriment to the community.

The nude beach had grown on a popular public sand bar to include hundreds of weekend nudists -who inevitably attracted perverts and exhibitionists, making the area obviously unavailable to traditional local river users.

While an unqualified DNR tried unsuccessfully to control things, the outrageous circumstances prevailed with no end—or all ends, in sight including a Madison preacher confronting “sinful” nudists at the parking area where shouting scuffles ensued.

Sarah, a drama student at Whitewater at the time, the keeper and other family members had great fun presenting six sold-out performances in the Mazo community center with a professional cast and an audience largely from Madison.

With no strong feelings opposing nudity, the “Naked at Amazo” play stressed that a public sandbar should not be appropriated by an element that, by its behavior, excluded the rest of the public.

Whether or not the thousand or so people who saw the play was part of what eventually happened, the nude beach is gone and the sandbar is being regulated and developed so local family picnics will again be possible.

In retrospect, the keeper rues the fact that “Naked at Amazo” did not get a shot at the big time. But Sarah has moved to California so maybe there is still a chance.

The keeper will be waiting, fully dressed, of course.