The Nerd
by Larry Shue
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Description
Comedy. A young architect is visited by a man who saved his life in Vietnam. The guest turns out to be inept, a bumbling "nerd," overstaying his welcome. 2 acts, 3 scenes, 5 men, 2 women, 1 interior. "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 show more 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 thirty-fourth 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." -- Publisher's website. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
The world lost a great comedic voice when Larry Shue died in a plane crash back in the eighties. Two of his plays, "The Nerd" and "The Foreigner" are the gold standard in theatrical belly laughs. Shue, laugh for laugh, makes Neil Simon look like the MacNeil/Lehrer Report.
Willum Cubbert is a rising young architect in Terre Haute, IN who gets a call from Rick Steadman, who saved his life in Vietnam. Since he was unconscious while being rescued, he never actually saw what Rick looked like. Anyway, after calling, Rick shows up and takes up residence with the accommodating Willum. Rick is a terrible house-guest. A nerd. A pest. A pestilence.
Rick (aided by erstwhile girlfriend Tansy and acerbic buddy Axel), must find within himself the show more gumption to give Rick the boot.
A few paragraphs can't do justice to how funny this play is. So read it yourself. Or come see me in it (playing Axel) at Salem Community Theatre, opening April 19, 2013! show less
Willum Cubbert is a rising young architect in Terre Haute, IN who gets a call from Rick Steadman, who saved his life in Vietnam. Since he was unconscious while being rescued, he never actually saw what Rick looked like. Anyway, after calling, Rick shows up and takes up residence with the accommodating Willum. Rick is a terrible house-guest. A nerd. A pest. A pestilence.
Rick (aided by erstwhile girlfriend Tansy and acerbic buddy Axel), must find within himself the show more gumption to give Rick the boot.
A few paragraphs can't do justice to how funny this play is. So read it yourself. Or come see me in it (playing Axel) at Salem Community Theatre, opening April 19, 2013! show less
Larry Shue’s play THE NERD was written in 1980 – back before cell phones – when we were using answering machines instead of voicemail to communicate with each other. This is important, as an answering machine plays a central part in this really funny play. The nerd is Rick Steadman, a man who saved the life of fellow soldier Willum Cubbert in Viet Nam. The grateful Cubbert writes to Steadman and in his appreciation says that he owes him everything.
THE NERD has been presented from Milwaukie (where it originated) to Great Britain and to Broadway.
One day Rick Steadman shows up at the door of Willum Cubbert and inserts himself in Willum’s life. Rick’s social ineptness leads to many misunderstandings and some hysterical show more conversation between them and Willum’s friends and colleagues. Willum desperately tries to think of a way to get rid of Rick.
I really did laugh out loud many times in reading this play. Axel, Willum’s friend, is especially witty and my favorite character.
If you’ve never read a play I encourage you not to dismiss them. They can be a great source of entertainment and don’t take much time to get through.
For all of the entertainment THE NERD gave me, I highly recommend it! show less
THE NERD has been presented from Milwaukie (where it originated) to Great Britain and to Broadway.
One day Rick Steadman shows up at the door of Willum Cubbert and inserts himself in Willum’s life. Rick’s social ineptness leads to many misunderstandings and some hysterical show more conversation between them and Willum’s friends and colleagues. Willum desperately tries to think of a way to get rid of Rick.
I really did laugh out loud many times in reading this play. Axel, Willum’s friend, is especially witty and my favorite character.
If you’ve never read a play I encourage you not to dismiss them. They can be a great source of entertainment and don’t take much time to get through.
For all of the entertainment THE NERD gave me, I highly recommend it! show less
Not even close to as good as Shue's The Foreigner.
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Author Information
7+ Works 441 Members
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Nerd
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 149
- Popularity
- 219,027
- Reviews
- 4
- Rating
- (3.71)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 2
- ASINs
- 3
