The writer persuasively insists his play should conclude with its characters standing before us entirely naked while the producer cites unspecified reasons for deciding the actors will only strip down to their underwear.
It is unusual for such disputes to erupt into the public domain and bringing it all into the open has the surprising effect of heightening audience engagement with the work.
There are good reasons for believing the retention of underwear diminishes the impact of a scene that is all about stripping away layers of delusion but the more discreet staging does not entirely obscure the author's intention.
This is largely due to superb performances that do not shy away from revealing the heart-rending anguish of characters who unflinchingly describe themselves as "fat, boring and stupid".
Bronwyn Bradley builds a haunting picture of lonely desperation while Mark Wright engagingly humanises a character who could easily have become repulsive. Both actors strike a fine balance between humour and pathos that creates an opportunity for cathartic identification with our deepest anxieties.
Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography
Where:
Loft, Q Theatre, to July 11.
