I think Shakespeare's direction is simply that Lear "Begins to disrobe," but I know Ian Holm in the National Theatre production got totally nekked. (I only saw him from the bum side from where I was sitting). It's done during the storm scene where Lear encounters 'Poor Tom'/Edgar, the "unaccomodated man." That's what I figured. I've just never seen a production that went the full monty. Kevin Kline's Lear had sort of a diaper on! It definitely makes sense dramatically and to me would be even more disturbing and heart-breaking to see the character so degraded.
and Groffs butt(which is not considered nudity at all. Last time I checked, a bare asS is considered nudity by every human being in the world, except for you apparently. Partial nudity, but (haha, butt) nudity none the less.
"I seem to have wandered into the BRAIN load-out thread... "
-best12bars
"Sorry I am a Theatre major not a English Major"
-skibumb5290