‘The Nerd’ Might Get You to Rethink Your House Guest Invitations

Posted on May 6, 2018 by Karen Nowosad

(L to R) Colin Hanlon, Jonathan Kite, Kate Reinders and Zach Shaffer in Larry Shue’s comedy, “The Nerd,” at George Street Playhouse, April 24 – May 20, 2018. (Photo: T. Charles Erickson)

What happens when somebody comes to your home for a visit and won’t leave. Even worse, what happens when that house guest turns out to have such outrageous behavior that he becomes a nightmare that won’t end? This situation is presented in The Nerd, now playing at New Brunswick’s  George Street Playhouse.  The good news is that the house guest’s antics are absolutely hilarious and they give rise to many funny situations. The Nerd is a very funny show to see which also has a surprise ending. This review won’t even hint at that ending except to  say it restores one’s faith in human nature after it gets humorously ripped to shreds!

The Nerd first premiered in 1981. Written by American actor/playwright Larry Shue, it ran on Broadway from 1987 – 1988.  This production at George Street Playhouse is directed by popular actor Kevin Cahoon.  Mr. Cahoon’s fine direction of The Nerd showcases some crazy stage antics. The antics stand out as believable because the characters seem all too real. However, some of them are the type of people you probably don’t want to know. A good example is Clelia, the mother who gets her stress relief from her child by breaking dishes or anything that is convenient. That child, Thor, is a real brat and his actions on stage give rise to a lot of laughs as well as Clelia’s compulsion to break things.

Jonathan Kite in Larry Shue’s comedy, “The Nerd,” at George Street Playhouse, April 24 – May 20, 2018. (Photo: T. Charles Erickson)


The play begins with a birthday party for Willum. His friends Axel and Tansy, who briefly dated at one point, are present. Tansy has a definite interest in Willum. He also is interested in her but they have not moved forward on anything romantically. Also at the party are Willum’s client Waldgrave, his wife Clelia, and their son Thor.

Willum excitedly learns that the army buddy who saved his life in Vietnam is due to be at the party. The buddy’s name is Rick and the two have never actually met as he was unconscious when saved. So when Rick arrives dressed in a Halloween costume, the confusion is even greater and funnier.

Rick eventually takes off his Halloween costume to reveal an outfit that draws some laughs. And that is the start of everything going crazy. Rick, who works in a chalk factory, is just so out of tune with life and in some cases manners that it turns out to be hilarious.

Rick’s visit with Willum turns out to be never-ending. Willum doesn’t have the gumption to ask him to leave as he feels he owes him his life. It is only after Rick manages to mess up his relationship with his major client, Waldgrave, that he knows he must end the visit.  With the help of his friends Axel and Tansy, a plan is put in action to get Rick to leave. The playing of the plan provides some amazingly funny moments in the show. But the outcome will not be disclosed here. See it for yourself!

The very talented cast includes Jonathan Kite as Rick.  His expressions and speaking mannerisms alone make this a play worth seeing.   Colin Hanlon plays the long suffering and overly patient Willum.  Zach Shaffer plays his concerned and caring friend Axel.  Tansy the love interest is played by Kate Reinders.  Playing the dish breaking Clelia is Ann Harada with Stephen Wallem in the role of her husband Walgrave. Hayden Bercyas plays the antsy 8-year-old Thor Waldgrave.

With summer just around the corner, this play might lodge in your mind if you have invited guests to stay with you. We certainly hope it is not even close to what you will see in this show. But if it does, remember this play and go with it.

(L to R) Ann Harada, Stephen Wallem and Jonathan Kite in Larry Shue’s comedy, “The Nerd,” at George Street Playhouse, April 24 – May 20, 2018. (Photo: T. Charles Erickson)

additional information about ‘the nerd’

Run Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes with one 15 minute intermission

Location: George Street Playhouse, 103 College Farm Road, New Brunswtick, NJ 08901 (interim location while construction continues on their new venue)

Contact for Information and Tickets:  To purchase tickets or for more information, visit the George Street Playhouse website at www.GeorgeStreetPlayhouse.org, or call the box office at 732-246-7717. Show runs through May 20, 2018.

 

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‘The Shakespeare Conspiracy’ Opens the Battle of the Bards

Posted on April 30, 2018 by Karen Nowosad

Mateo D’Amato in ‘The Shakespeare Conspiracy Photo Credit – Brian Pachelli

The Shakespeare Conspiracy is playing at Theater Row now through May 5. This play is the first of two productions that make up the “Battle Of The Bards: The Christopher Marlowe Festival.” If you are a fan of the conspiracy theories that question whether Shakespeare actually wrote his own works, you may enjoy seeing this show. The Shakespeare Conspiracy centers on the life of Christopher Marlowe who is regarded by many as the foremost playwright and poet of the Elizabethan era. The play is presented by Fledgling Theater Company who provide an imaginative representation of this time period and the questions arising from it.

Written by Ted Bacino and Rufus Cadigan, The Shakespeare Conspiracy examines two ideas:

1. How did William Shakespeare become England’s greatest playwright virtually overnight when he was just a nameless actor who had never written anything before?

2. How could Christopher Marlowe, known spy and the previous reigning playwright in England, be suspiciously murdered and quickly buried in an unmarked grave just days before he was to be tried for treason?

Mateo D’Amato & Josh Jacobson in ‘The Shakespeare Conspiracy’ – Photo Credit – Brian Pachelli

A dark atmosphere prevails at the start of the play and carries throughout the entire story.  Hooded figures are inside the theater as people find their seats. The play begins with the hooded beings carrying out something that represents a dead body to signify the time period when a plague was killing people.

Christopher Marlowe appears with his male lover as the background of their lives together plays out.  They learn of people who are being put on trial for treason and losing their lives.  So when the call comes from Marlowe to come to trial, a plot is set in motion to hide him by claiming he was killed. He remains hidden in the mansion where the two lovers live and  they recruit a very uneducated William Shakespeare to serve as the source to deliver the plays that Marlowe writes. The credit for writing goes to Shakespeare while Marlowe creates masterpieces all the while the world thinks he is dead. As he continues years of hiding,  a constable is high on his tail.  He suspects that Marlowe is still alive and he tries to track him and catch him. The plot has more twists and turns that bring it to quite a surprising ending.

Strong acting develops the characterization on stage which is so crucial to the story line.  Under the direction of Jeremy Karafin, suspense and downright scary moments at times  develop the plot and makes it very believable.  The cast features Matthew Dalton Lynch, Mateo d’Amato, Jevon Nicholson, James M. Arthur, Paul Marquez, Dontonio Demarco, Temesgen Tocruray and Josh Jacobson.

The black box theater used for this show is small. There are only about 50 seats. But this intimate setting allows the audience to really feel a part of the action taking place. The stage is small but it doesn’t hamper the actors it all. They utilize the entire length of the theater going right up into an area that could normally be used for seating. This use of the space allows the audience to really get a sense in the feel of movement and tension that is taking place in this story.

This really is a superb production to see.  The Shakespeare Conspiracy will peak your interest in this fabulous debate of ideas.  What you end up with as a conclusion might differ from the ideas you have going in.

Information About ‘The Shakespeare Conspiracy’

Running Time: 120 minutes with one intermission

Location: Studio Theatre, Theater Row, 410 W. 42nd Street, New York City

Performances: April 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, May 2, 3, 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. and April 22nd, 29th at 2:00 p.m.

Contact for Info and Tickets: Theater Row’s website – http://www.theatrerow.org/

Suggested Audience: Theater goers who enjoy intense situations and mature situations

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‘The Metromaniacs’ Delivers a Feast of Language

Posted on April 29, 2018 by Karen Nowosad

A scene from ‘The Metromaniacs’ Photo credit Carol Rosegg

Crazy antics take place on stage at a new production titled The Metromaniacs.  It is funny, creative, and a most enjoyable show to see. Performing at 42nd Street Duke Theatre, this play comes from the Red Bull Theater and it runs through May 26, 2018.  If you are someone who enjoys good word plays on language with some finessing  and verse tossed in, this play is for you. The show has appeal for a wide range of audiences especially those who enjoy listening to the English language used in beautiful verse and superb presentation of ideas. A bit of background is in order to understand why.

The Metromaniacs is based on a French farce, La Métromanie,
by Alexis Piron. Piron lived from 1689-1773 and was one of the most widely produced comic writers of the 18th century.  Writer David Ives, who is well known for his incredible writing style (The Liar, Venus in Fur, All in the Timing)  came upon this work as he researched 17th and 18th century French comedies.  Mr. Ives writes that La Métromanie  is a comedy “with five plots, none of them important .  On the other hand, that’s the beauty of the play, and part of its delight.”

The Metromaniacs is the third play from a  successful partnership between David Ives as an “adaptor” and the director Michael Kahn. This show appeals to a wide range of audiences especially those who enjoy listening to the English language used in beautiful verse and superb presentation of ideas. Mr. Ives has said “I think everything should be in verse, ‘The New York Times’ and cookbooks should be in verse. Verse raises the level.” Verse certainly raises the level of this play. It provides a virtual feast for listening to language.

A scene from ‘The Metromaniacs’ Photo credit Carol Rosegg

The play is set in Spring, 1738 in Paris when poets and verse were all the rage.  The plot centers around two young men who come to Francalou’s home in search of love.  One, Damis, is a poet in search of a woman poet who he has never met but he believes he has finally located at this home. Dorante is not a literary source but in search of a wife. Their trials and tribulations tie in with Francalou’s desire to launch a new play he wrote.  There is a great deal of mistaken identity which adds to the comedy and the toll it takes on the characters that is, until the very end. Then, the mistaken identity becomes a joyful experience for all involved and it grants an ending that might be a little far-fetched, but not really considering the circumstances.

Perhaps it is best to refer to what Mr. Ives wrote about The Metromaniacs to best understand the story.  The play has “Characters drunk on language, mere mortals in love with poetry, fools in love with love. In other words, the way the world was meant to be.”

A scene from ‘The Metromaniacs’ Photo credit Carol Rosegg

The ensemble cast for The Metromaniacs includes Noah Averbach, Christian Conn, Adam Green, Peter Kybart, Adam LeFevre, Amelia Pedlow, and Dina Thomas. The versatility of the acting and the call to respond to comic antics create funny moments. For example, one of the props is what appears to be a fairly large sized boulder. However, when several players put their foot on it, the boulder shrinks down and the audience realizes it is nothing but an object that is soft. It is used several times during the play and it is funny every time.

Prepare to laugh and enjoy yourself when you go to see The Metromaniacs.  Also, bask in the beauty of the language as it unfolds the story for you.

Info about ‘the metromaniacs’

Running Time: Approx. 1 hour 45 minutes and one intermission

Location:  The Duke on 42nd Street, 229 West 42nd Street, between 7th & 8th Avenues, New York City.

Performances: Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm, with matinees select Wednesdays at 2pm, Saturdays at 2pm and Sundays at 3pm.  Show ends May 26, 2018.

Contact for Info and Tickets:  Visit Dukeon42.org or call 646/223-3010.  In person, regular box office hours at The Duke.

 

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