From the Lua 5.2.1, is there some way in the interpreter to call functions that are "local" in a file, without removing the "local" keyword?

I put the "local" keyword in front of functions that are not intended to be "exported" by the module I wrote in order to hide them, as suggested by the online docs. However, now I can't access them from the interpreter for live testing and experimentation.

One way to do it ... a very good way to do it, actually ... is to create one exportable "test harness" function that is capable of calling the local routines. This function is intended for use only by the testing framework.

The advantage of this technique, IMHO, is that it preserves the principle of something being "local," hence private to the module and not intended for public consumption ... or external testing. It documents, right there in the module, exactly how the private routines in the module are tested, and it does so without compromising their privacy.