Meet 'The Nerd' in Bigfork

The Bigfork Community Players present Larry Shue’s play “The Nerd,” directed by Karen Kolar, at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts.

Shows are at 7:30 p.m. on April 4, 5, 11, and 12 and at 2 p.m. on April 6 and 13.  

Now an aspiring young architect in Terre Haute, Indiana, Willum Cubbert has often told his friends about the debt he owes to Rick Steadman, a fellow ex-GI whom he has never met but who saved his life after he was seriously wounded in Vietnam. He has written to Rick to say that, as long as he is alive, “you will have somebody on Earth who will do anything for you” —so Willum is delighted when Rick shows up unexpectedly at his apartment on the night of his 34th birthday party. 

But his delight soon fades as it becomes apparent that Rick is a hopeless "nerd"—a bumbling oaf with no social sense, little intelligence and less tact. And Rick stays on and on, his continued presence among Willum and his friends leading to one uproarious incident after another, until the normally placid Willum finds himself contemplating violence — a dire development which, happily, is staved off by the surprising "twist" ending of the play.

“It’s a really engaging play,” Kolar said. “I wanted to ensure that the actors in this play were the right age, had the right chemistry, and were willing to do the really over-the-top comedic acting required to make the production of this great script achieve its potential.”

Blake Williams plays Willum, the architect, who is precise, controlled and boring. Scott Roskam is Axel Hammond, Willum’s goodhearted but somewhat devious friend. Allison McCarthy is Tansy, a career newscaster who’d give it all up if Willum had any “gumption.” John Goroski plays Rick, the guy who saved Willum’s life and seemed so normal, back in the day. Don McAdam is Warnock Waldgrave: rich, controlling and clueless. Meghan Rogers is Clelia Waldgrave, who is gentle on everything but china, and Joshua Rogers is Thor Waldgrave.

Tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for Bigfork Community Players members, students and seniors; and $5 for children under 12. They are available at www.bigforkcenter.org, at Bigfork Drug, at the Kalispell Grand Hotel, from any cast member, and at the door.