THE NERD @ PATIO PLAYHOUSE

“The Nerd”: Hike up Your High-waters and Head to Escondido for a Geeky Good Time

By Kristen Fogle

Larry Shue’s “The Nerd,” now playing at Patio Playhouse, is everything that the not-so-nice moniker promises. High-water pants, a pocket lined with pens, nasally voice…all emanating from socially awkward central character Rick Steadman. But then, the question becomes, why do the other characters deal with Rick—who bears a lot of similarities in demeanor to Urkel—and is just as annoying?

Willum Cubbert is a talented architect who has just turned 34. His friends, the charismatic Tansy McGinnis (and Willum’s love interest), and Axel Hammond, the comic relief, have decided to throw Willum a party, but to little success. Willum’s boss, cantankerous Warnock Waldgrave, his wife, Clelia, who as a special needs teacher speaks a little too slowly and has an odd habit of breaking plates when nervous, and their wild son Thor seem to be the only ones who can make it. That is until Rick Steadman calls. Rick is a man Willum has never met, but Willum owes his life to (due to Rick’s life saving heroism when the pair was in Vietnam). Obviously, as this is the man who saved him, Willum is excited to meet Rick, but quickly learns that Rick’s quirks are a bit cumbersome. Rick manages in one short scene to insult Tansy’s cooking, ruin a party game, insight a disastrous second game, and destroy everyone’s shoes in the process. By the second act Willum is at his wits end—and with Tansy and Axel—decide to fight crazy with crazy, “introducing” Rick to some of the odd customs the trio have (or have created) to send Rick on his way.

This script is hilarious, though slightly predictable at times, and director Rob Wolter clearly knows how to place his talented actors. (This is not his first—nor hopefully last—time attempting a Shue script.) The physical comedy (including food usage) keeps the audience wondering where “The Nerd” will take them next. And Patio’s homey space makes this a great location to stage the comedy bordering on farce.

The cast are all excellent—making us wonder if the timing was ironed out by a deliberate director or a product of each individual’s comedic talent. Axel, as said before, keeps us rolling throughout, and Ian Boyd, the man behind him is a master at wielding that wonderfully dry humor. Tansy McGinnis is played by Krysti Litt—after seeing her in this piece as well as Patio’s “Humble Boy,” I am convinced we will be seeing much more from her. Though she does silly and funny well, she captivates any time real, raw emotion must be mustered. Warnock (JJ Rowley) executes the impatient boss man well, and though only in the first act, Clelia (PJ Anbey) and Thor (Blake Kerzie) are both quite funny (kudos to the nine year old Blake!) As for our title character, David Guthrie plays Rick Steadman painfully well; he unabashedly charges into awkwardness and makes us both like him and not be able to stand him equally effectively. Lastly, Willum, for being the front runner, may be the least strong character of the bunch, but Christian Wright still evokes laughs and gets it right pretty much the whole way through.

“The Nerd” is the kind of theater I like best; never too serious, always funny, it entertains from start to finish. At the very least, it deserves a trip to the cutest little theater in Escondido (going strong since 1966!).

Stay tuned for what’s to come at Patio: “Lost and Found,” a youth musical, will take the stage April 13-22, “The Bridge,” a reading, will be performed May 13, and “King Lear” will take place June 1-24.

“The Nerd”

Patio Playhouse

3/2-3/25

201 E Grand Ave.

Escondido, CA 92030

760-746-6669

www.patioplayhouse.com