The married couples living in Gardenia are mostly everyday folks putting down roots, watching their flowers grow — natural stuff. But when word gets out that the president of their homeowners association likes to visit a naturalist resort, much shade is thrown in this charming if inoffensive new tuner.
With a score by Nirmal Chandraratna and a book by Shannon Thomason, Nudists in Love begins when Tina (Kristin Maloney), the wife of Trevor (Adam J. MacDonald), learns of his hitherto hidden interest in nudism. She tells Cindy (Beth Ann Leone), who, alas, tells her blabbermouth husband, Caleb (BJ Hemann). Soon, all the Gardenians — including unassuming twosome Jeff (Jayar Walker) and Joan (Ashley Anne Harrell) and Sarah (Jennifer Leigh Jones) and Ed (Nick Algier), who continually bicker over treetop heights — get the news.
Meanwhile, Trevor's secret provides an opening for Roger (Todd Faulkner) — who pines to topple Trevor from his post — and his scheming wife, Lilly (Thea McCartan), to stage a coup. Only the arrival of Snake (Tom Schubert), Trevor's friend from the naturalist resort, can zip up the zaniness.
Not only are Sara's Thigpen's fast-momentum direction and John Boy's choreography well-polished, but given how workmanlike Nudists in Love is (as opposed to something innovative or transformative), it's fun to observe how the uniformly resourceful cast digs into their characters and reveals some shiny gems. The songs are light, fun, often touching, and pretty regularly on the chuckle-worthy side of silly.
I do wish, though, that the authors would cut "Pull the Weeds." It's too redolent of "Run Freedom Run," the gospel-tinged revival number from Urinetown, the most successful musical to originate in the Fringe to date. Why should you clothe yourself in someone else's style when being natural seems the thing to do?
Presented by Camilla Millican Samuelson in association with the Skyclad Company as part of the New York International Fringe Festival at the Bleecker Street Theatre, 45 Bleecker St., NYC. Aug. 8-23. Remaining performances: Fri., Aug. 15, 5 p.m.; Thu., Aug. 21, 10 p.m.; Sat., Aug. 23, noon. (212) 279-4488 or (866) 468-7619 or www.fringenyc.org.