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Although the situation is not particularly funny when it’s happening to you in your own home, in the hands of a playwright like Wisconsinite Larry Shue, the mayhem that ensues onstage is virtually guaranteed to inspire belly laughs.
“I defy anyone to read the script for this play without bursting out laughing — I take that as a good sign it’s a play worth doing,” said Brad Williams, who is both directing and starring in the Holmen Community Theatre’s version of “The Nerd.” The almost surefire laugh-getter is set to run both this weekend and next at the Holmen High School Fine Arts Center.
Williams refined his nerd-like qualities by acting in the play back in the 80s in La Crosse.
“I played the same part, so it wasn’t too hard to remember the lines,” Williams said.
However, this time he will be directing as well.
“I’m trying to find a few different things this time. It is definitely challenging to act and direct at the same time, but if I didn’t think I could do it, I wouldn’t have signed on,” Williams said.
Part of the reason HCT decided to do “The Nerd” was Williams’ familiarity with it; he also directed it in recent years and the group needed to fill the cast in a timely manner — that and the fact that it’s a much-beloved play.
“I really like the way it’s coming together,” Williams said of the cast and the rehearsals thus far.
Barry Montee, whose day job is teaching theater at La Crosse Central, gets to play the role of Cubbert, kind of a straight man to Williams’ clueless nerd. Montee, who has directed plays before, says he’s enjoying being on the other side of the spotlight, even though memorizing lines is a bit more of a chore than he remembered.
“I think I’ll probably go a little easier on my students after this,” he admitted.
Montee also said that he’s been struck by professionalism of everyone at HCT.
“The cast, the backstage people, everyone — I’ve been very impressed,” he said.
Everyone in the production seems to enjoy working with Shue’s script.
“It’s definitely a fun play to act in,” Williams said.
Montee agreed.
“I’ve had a blast — the characters are so clearly drawn that it’s easy to relate to them,” he said.
One of the play’s strengths, according to Williams, is its unpredictability.
“It’s a surprising play in many ways. After awhile, the audience doesn’t quite know what to expect — the one thing they can expect, though, is a good time,” he said.
Tickets for “The Nerd” are available at Festival Foods in Holmen, at the door or by calling 526-9242.
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