1990

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WEEK OF

'Nerd' lives up to name; plays IIReview By MARKGORDON It's just as funny and absurd as its tille would suggest. as an ensemble presentation, and the six performers delight the au– dience with a well-orchestrated performance. tance of pacing and movement for he keeps the performance buoyant from opening line to final exit.

Playing the role of the nerd, Holder must move from a level– headed young man to a boring, in– the play in motion, is obviously as much at home under the stage lamps as he would be in the sec– urity of his own living roo:r!l. Hardy likes what he is doin,., and, gratiating and sometimes stupid social misfit. Holder not only uses his voice but his face and body as \\ell in thts character portrayal. \\ hich he plays to perfection. And> Hardy in the role ofAxel Hammond, the character who sets for !hat reason, bring vitality to a sion music is a part of the program as well as a fashion show pre– sented during the meal by the East Central Fashion Squad. All in all, The Nerd is a hit for the ECCC Players. It is a perfect selection to begin the season. Be sure to carry a handkerchief– you will certainly need H. This production guarantees that tears of laughter will roll dov.n )'Our cheeks. The last performance of The Nerd will be presented tonight at 7 in Mabry Cafeteria on the East Central Campus. Mark Gordon I~ at E11~t Central Com– munity College.

The Nerd concerns the amics of two friends who engage m a string of entertaining episodes designed to restore a waning romance be– tween a young lady, who is look– ing for the excitement ofmetropo– litan life, and her architect boy– friend, who is satisfied with the status quo. Brent Fountain, as architect Wtllium Cubbert, is at best when attempting to justify the antics of Jim Holder, who performs as the nerd, Rick Steadman. Fountain apparenLJy understands the impor- play, Tansy McGinnis, is played by Pamela Gilmer. Gilmer exer– cises just the right amount of re– straint to give credibility to her performance. Her talent lies in her ability not to over react to the hi– larity !hat swirls around her thor– ughout lhe play. If The Nerd falls short in any way, it is the poor quality of sev– eral recorded telephone calls that punctuate lhe play. The play is not as well lighted as it could be. ECCC would do well to invest in some additional lighting equip– ment if dinner theater is to con– tinue as a part of the college's the– ater offerings. Pre-performance and intermis-

The East Central Players of East Central Community College in Decatur opened their 1990-91 theater season with a Thursday night dinner theater presentation of Larr> Shue 's two-act comedy The.Verd Duector Judy Carroll, who IS in her first season a;) drama dtrector at East Central, has done a magru– ficem JOb in honing the talems of stx veteran East Central players. No one actor or actre s steals the show. The how has been directed role that c uld have limped along without t 'le comic excitement which HarJ\ brings to the tage. Jeff Hill as Warnock Wald– gravc and Sandra Collins as his wife Clelia Waldgravc r.. ke two minor roles and transfo1 .n them into deligh tful bits of c 1medy. Hitt, as the confused buiiJer who is attempting to erect a building designed by architect Cu~bert, is caught up inadvertent •. m the nonsense created by the • erd and does not cope well ~. lth the situation. Both Hiu and Collill are as comical as their lines an'-' actions v.ill permit them to be. The most sane character in the

fina l night ton ight

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~I ERIDIAN STAR