By GRETCHEN DRUMMIE
Toronto Sun
"Thanks for the mammaries" wasn't exactly on the minds of seniors yesterday
when a bare-breasted woman crashed theircity-sponsored festival at Toronto City
Hall.
Maureen O'Reilly, 23, raised more than a few eyebrows as she bopped to the big band
sounds at Nathan Phillips Square, near the court that made it legal for women to
go topless.
"I'm a nudist, so when the law came into effect, of course I'm going to take
advantage of that," said the topless dancer from Stratford as she careened
around with reeling retirees at the "Memories of You" salute. O'Reilly
pranced mere feet from the Ontario Court of Appeal where the law barring women from
doffing tops was turfed.
O'Reilly, wearing nipple rings, a sarong, sunglasses and nothing else, joined cha-cha-ing
seniors who tangoed on a stage seemingly oblivious to the spectacle.
As the Debi Sander Walker Orchestra rocked uninterrupted, the elderly revelers danced
on in the sun beside the topless dancer.
"It's great, absolutely great," crowed Gord Burrell, 80. "We should
have more of it. I love it. It's an absolute riot that it happened here."
"It's disgusting. The beach is okay, but not here," said his turned-off
pal, Dorothy Robichaud, 72.
"I think it's great. I wish I was 25 years younger," said Barbara Brunelle.
"I think we should be able to do whatever we want-- but I didn't expect it
here."
Seniors' dance co-ordinator Trish Johnson said O'Reilly's act was "totally
legal and she has a right to be here. I wish she'd chosen another day to make her
statement, though, because it's a little shocking to the seniors."
O'Reilly said she didn't pick the event; she'd just arrived in Toronto from her
hometown of Stratford, heard the music and joined in the fun. She said she travelled
here topless so didn't have to drop her shirt. "I think a lot of people have
closed opinions about walking around with no tops," she told The Sun. "In
Stratford yesterday I had three or four negative comments. But this is the way we
were born, so why aren't we all walking around like this?"
As for the law, she said it "took long enough ... get ready." O'Reilly
said she plans to go topless forever. But not everybody agreed: "Even dogs
and cats have tails to cover it," sniffed Suzann Stevanchik, 69. "That's
a woman?" joked Mona Ball, 77.
"It's supposed to be the beach only," scoffed "Pat." "But
if that's the way they want to save money ..."