'The Nerd' visits Royal Theatre starting this weekend

Patrick Wood, center, rehearses a scene as Rick Steadman, alongside Curtis Cunningham, playing Willum Cubbert at left, and Mark Sidebottom, playing Warnock Waldgrave, in "The Nerd" on March 9, 2017 at The Royal Theatre in downtown Versailles, Mo.
Patrick Wood, center, rehearses a scene as Rick Steadman, alongside Curtis Cunningham, playing Willum Cubbert at left, and Mark Sidebottom, playing Warnock Waldgrave, in "The Nerd" on March 9, 2017 at The Royal Theatre in downtown Versailles, Mo.

Willum Cubbert has never met the fellow ex-GI who saved his life after he was seriously wounded in Vietnam.

The aspiring young architect, who lives in Terre, Indiana, has often told his friends about the debt he owes Rick Steadman. Willum has written to Rick, saying as long as he is alive, "you will have somebody on Earth who will do anything for you."

The night of Willum's 34th birthday party, he is at first delighted to see Rick unexpectedly show up. However, Willum soon may take back his words when the nerdy, hopeless and socially inept oaf wreaks havoc and flares tempers among the party-goers. The normally docile Willum even contemplates violence to end Rick's uproarious antics, with that thought alleviated by a surprising realization.

This slapstick story comes to life in Larry Shue's "The Nerd," hitting the stage at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and again on March 24-25 at The Royal Theatre in Versailles.

"The Nerd" is one of Shue's most popular comedies, with "Stars Wars" film actor Mark Hamill originally playing Willum Cubbert on Broadway in the late '80s. This is not the first time The Royal Theatre has produced "The Nerd," with Curtis Cunningham reprising the role of Willum he played 10 years ago.

"He is stuck in a rut, just accepts life as it comes toward him and he needs his boat rocked. The crux of the play is his boat gets rocked - the end is worth the buildup," Cunningham said.

The Versailles native was involved in high school productions, having "The Nerd" directors, Sharri and David Merriott, as directors in his first play. Dabbling in theater in his early adult years, he returned to acting at The Royal Theatre a few years ago.

Cast in "Boys Next Door," "Harvey" and last fall's Olde Tyme Apple Festival musical "Beauty and the Beast," Cunningham has forged new friendships and reconnected with other veteran actors. Patrick Wood, playing Rick "The Nerd" Steadman, was a high school student Cunningham once directed during his past theater involvement.

Wood has acted in several productions, including playing the Pharaoh in The Royal Theatre's presentation of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."

Having seen a production of "The Nerd" at State Fair Community College, Wood knew Rick Steadman was over the top, and he follows suit on the Versailles stage.

"I am a nerdy person myself. The idea that this guy is so far out there and I get to make him as annoying as possible - pushing the limits of how nerdy I can be out there - is appealing," he said. "I just get out there and 'nerd' it up."

Additional characters throughout the play make "The Nerd" an ensemble cast.

"In a lot of comedies you have one or two people that dominate. In this one everybody has got something very important to contribute to the steady humor and the overall story," said David Merriott, current board president of the Royal Arts Council and has been involved in Royal Theatre productions for 20-plus years along with his wife.

Zach Lass is not only intrigued by his character - Willum's drama critic, quick-witted tenant Axel Hammond - he also compares "The Nerd" to a sitcom.

"When we can make the director and the crew laugh every single time, and they have seen it umpteen times, it means as actors we are doing something great," he said. "This could be a TV sitcom. This is geared to make everybody laugh from the first minute to the last."

Joining Willum, Rick and Axel at the party are Willum's wealthy and grouchy client Warnock Waldgrave, played by seasoned actor Mark Sidebottom, and Willum's potential girlfriend, Tansy McGinnis, played by Shannon Garber.

Similar to how Sidebottom was bit by the theater bug eight years ago after auditioning for a Royal Theatre production with his daughter, newcomers Denise Fisher and her middle son, Kyron, also decided to audition for "The Nerd" as a family activity. They both played roles in "Beauty and the Beast" last fall and were excited to play mother and son Clelia and Thor Waldgrave in "The Nerd."

"I'm kind of flighty, and that's been fun. And Kyron, he is my little angel, Thor, and he is not an angel," she said with a laugh.

One of the Merriotts' favorite scenes is seeing a game Rick prompts the guests to play come together and the laughter they are sure will erupt in the audiences this weekend and next.

"They put paper bags on their heads, punch holes in them, and do these ridiculous things the nerd tells them to do. Seeing that come together was fun," Merriott said.

Tickets for "The Nerd" are $10 for adults and $5 for students/children. Reserved seating may be purchased in advance, and tickets can also be purchased at the door the night of each event.

For more information, call 573-378-6226 or visit theroyaltheatre.com.