Living Arts Theatre Company's The Nerd at Mesa Arts Center
(out
of 
)Mark S.P. Turvin
(home office) (602) 912-0117
I can be reached for comment via e-mail at: mspt@goldfishpublishers.com
Reviewed 9/11/98
(out
of )Larry Shue's other famous play, The Nerd, is one of those shows that seems to work even if only one element is solidly in place. Despite weaknesses in every other cast member, if the actor playing the title role is in control of his essential nerdiness, the evening can shine. Though things are not that drastic in Living Arts Theatre's production of The Nerd, it is interesting to note how much things light up when the actor in this role enters and takes center stage.
The play centers on poor architect Willum of Terre Haute, Indiana, whose unrequited love for downstairs neighbor Tansy will end in seven days when she departs for D.C. Even worse, he must deal with his boss, Ticky, who rejects design after design of his for a hotel that he is building, constantly demanding less ornateness, less humanity. But as bad as things are for him, he has yet to meet his worst nightmare. Rick Steadman, the man referred to in the title, is someone Willum owes quite a favor to, and Mr. Steadman decides to take him up on that offer by crashing at Willum's for...ever, it seems. Rick's inescapable nerdy tendencies are enough to break even the gratitude-filled Willum, who must muster the gumption to rid himself of his unexpected houseguest.
In the Living Arts Theatre production, the shining light of the show is the actor portraying Rick, who lists himself in the program as Beaker. He is able to walk the tightrope of the character: he is disgusting, but not too; annoying, but not overly; and overbearing, but in a very funny way. This is not an easy role, as taking the part to its obvious extreme can be quite deadly, though a natural reaction to what is called for. Congratulations go to Beaker and director Jim Gradillas for finding a near-perfect balance, allowing for much comedy, and brief glimpses of disgusting, without driving audience members from their seats.
Also commendable is the performance of the other extreme character, Don Rainwater as the overbearing boss, Ticky. This role, too, is designed in a way that would allow the actor to chew on the scenery, but Mr. Rainwater is such a commanding presence, and so in control of his irritability, that he, too, lights up the stage when he's there.
From there, though, the other actors range from solid to barely acceptable, generally unable to compensate for the power of those first mentioned. At the center of the show is Juan Guzman Jr. as the beleaguered Willum, who plays much too browbeaten at the beginning, and is too much of a milquetoast to ever believably gain his gumption. It is here where Mr. Guzman and Mr. Gradillas seem to have missed the boat. Soft-spoken is one thing, but the name of the show is not The Wimp. Also tipping the scales as too soft-spoken for her own good, Kerry Leigh LePage believably plays love interest Tansy as sweet, loveable and torn, but fades too often into the background to show the audience what it is about her that Willum is so taken by. Also unbalanced is the performance by Mike Roberts as best friend and droll drama critic Axel, who is a tad too sardonically played to develop any sympathy, and who seemed unable to achieve the balance between sarcastic and nasty, the totally wrong way to play this character. When these three actors are on the stage, which is some time of the play, there is little chemistry and power. While this is compensated for when Rick and Ticky are onstage, it is still a general disappointment that inadvertently serves to accentuate the accomplishments of Beaker and Mr. Rainwater.
Solid performances come from Amanda Regan as Ticky's overwhelmed wife, Clelia, a teacher with an odd use for fine china, and 10 year-old Eric Alan Luse as Ticky's bratty son, Thor.
Karen Rolston's set design is simple, though the odd use of what looks to be wooden beams on the walls makes us wonder just how good an architect Willum is, a bad thing to call attention to.
While it is true that three of the four main leads offer disappointing
performances, to those uninitiated in the hilarity that is The
Nerd will probably not be as bothered by the weaknesses
once the show kicks into gear and Willum's birthday party begins.
If Mr. Gradillas hadn't lucked out in his most important casting,
it would have been the difference between an enjoyable show with
some slow moments and an unbalanced fiasco. Go to The Nerd
for The Nerd. You'll be glad you did.
Production Details:
The Nerd by Larry
Shue
Living Arts Theatre at The Mesa Arts Center, Mesa
582-3121
September 11th-September 26th, 1998