THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 17, 1995 TAG: 9503170739
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HENRY EDGAR, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Veteran Hampton Roads actor Stan Baranowski, who is directing the Portsmouth Little Theater's upcoming production of ``The Nerd,'' has a love-hate relationship with playwright Larry Shue, whose hits ``The Foreigner'' and ``The Nerd'' have become staples of area theater companies in recent years.
``On the one hand, he writes these wonderful, wonderful scripts,'' Baranowski says. ``On the other hand, these scripts are so full of props and things that have to happen, that are an integral part of the action, that you really have to work hard to make everything happen that the script is telling you must happen.''
Baranowski is evasive about just what it is that must happen, though, explaining that one will have to see the show, which opens a three-week run March 24 at Wilson High School, where Portsmouth Little Theater has its home base.
``This is a very, very funny play. he adds. ``As soon as I read it, I knew I wanted to be a part of this production. It was my introduction to Larry Shue, who is a very good writer who knows how to write some really funny situations. For example, when I first read the play, I was sitting at home alone and I found myself doing something I never do - I was laughing out loud.''
Just what was so funny about ``The Nerd'' anyway?
``It's the situations,'' Baranowski says. ``The way he sets them up. They're hysterical.''
Baranowski has high praise for the cast, which he says is finding ``all these things'' to bring the script to life. ``Pretty much all the characters in the play get their own moments,'' he says. ``And everyone is up to making those moments work. It's really been satisfying just watching this process.''
He's assembled a cast that, for the most part, is made up of performers familiar to the Portsmouth Little Theater audiences. Rick Steaman, the character better known as the nerd, the title character in the script, is played by Bill Abrams. He comes to visit an architect, played by Adam Ivey, whose life he saved in the Vietnam War.
``The Nerd'' is only the second play directed by Baranowski, who acted in New York before moving to the Hampton Roads area, where he has worked with the Generic Theater, the ODU Players, the Kempsville Playhouse and the Omni Dinner Theatre. He made his directing debut this past summer with the Generic Theater's ``Night of the Hawk.''
``When I'm acting, right before I go on, I always get this feeling that it just doesn't get any better than this,'' he explains. ``It's the best feeling you can have. But now, I'm feeling like I can have more satisfaction with directing. With directing, you're involved with everything rather than just one part, you're responsible for the whole vision and I think I like it better.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
`THE NERD'
A comedy by Larry Shue,
at 8 p.m. March 24, 25 and 31 and April 1, 7 and 8 with matinees
at 2 p.m. March 26 and April 2.
To be presented at the Portsmouth Little Theatre in Wilson High
School, 1401 Elmhurst Lane
Tickets are $7, $6 for senior citizens, and will be available at
the box office prior to each performance.
by CNB