THE NERD by Larry Shue: Santa Cruz Shoestring Players

Aspiring, talented, but unassuming architect 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 Willum's 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. This leads to escalating hilarity and tension as Willum grapples with repaying his life debt. The Nerd is produced through special arrangement with Concord Theatricals. Directed by Chad Eggen.