Looming like a magnifying glass over paralyzed ants, the end-of-the-semester sizzle is coming. Bringing the stress of 10-page papers, final exams and heavily caffeinated insomnia, now is not a time of gleeful merrymaking for most UW students. Luckily, the Madison Repertory Theatre is here to help. Its latest production, The Nerd,"" opens this weekend at the Overture Center, offering students an escape from academia as well as the consolation of laughing at someone whose troubles are far worse than theirs.
First performed in 1981, the play surrounds three 30-something singles - Willem, Tansy and Axel - whose lives tailspin when Rick, the eponymous nerd, pays Willem a visit. When Rick introduces himself as the man who saved Willem's life during their Vietnam War service, Willem is so grateful he promises Rick will always have a place to live with him. When Rick takes the suggestion literally, Willem and his friends are forced to endure a Poindexter barrage no amount of military service could have prepared them for.
Director Tony Simotes, a UW-Madison theater professor, said he was excited to take on the ""zany comedy"" because of its raw comedy and historical significance.
""It was the first play that actually took a very serious theme like a Vietnam vet and found a way to get us to start laughing about the war and laughing about the experiences,"" Simotes said.
Besides Simotes' direction, UW's theater program plays a role all over the set, from cast to crew. Sarah Phillips and Josh Aaron McCabe - who play Tansy and Axel respectively - are UW alums and Simotes' students just two years ago. Both saw the project as a refreshing change from classical drama they'd been involved in.
""It's the goofiest project I've ever done,"" Phillips said. ""It's a really fun script.""
According to McCabe, ""The Nerd"" is mostly farce, but there's some heart to it to. ""It's silly, but there's characters that care about each other, so it's not just pure antics.""
The Steve Urkel-infused, ""Three's Company"" look-alive will run 23 shows from May 1-25.
