Just days after receiving the lead role, junior Peter Gifford will take the Mabee Theatre stage as the lead in the Benedictine College theatre department’s production of “The Nerd.”
Gifford replaced Chris O’Brien, who dropped out of the part.
Being part of a college theatre production is a commitment of no small size.
So it is not surprising that Gifford found the first of the five days he had to memorize his 80 page script a little more than overwhelming.
But despite the odds, the cast and crew are ready to stage yet another in a line of impressive productions from the BC theatre department.
‘The Nerd’ is an American comedy written by Larry Shue, the same playwright who wrote ‘The Foreigner’, which may be remembered from its successful run at the Atchison Theatre last year.
In ‘The Nerd’, the protagonist, Willum (Gifford), is having a mid-life crisis at 34.
The first act of the play takes place on Willum’s birthday, when his boss is scheduled to attend his party and the scene gets crashed by an old army buddy of Willum’s who happens to be a complete…well, Nerd.
Senior Ryan Stack, who will be playing the character of Axel Hammond in the production, said that in spite of the loss of their lead actor, rehearsals for the play have been hugely successful. 
In reference to working with Gifford, Stack said that “smart actors are always great to work with because you don’t have to worry about losing a connection on stage. And if you aren’t worrying about losing that connection, you can focus much better.
“And make the moments on stage more realistic which is the point of acting: making every moment truthful.”
Changing lead actors so late in rehearsals could spell disaster for a production, but Stack explained that Gifford had already worked with nearly every actor that’s involved in “The Nerd.”
Gifford’s ability to step into the role, according to Stack, has prevented the show from “being cancelled, or worse, a poor production.”
Gifford cites the patience and assistance of assistant director Sarah Wostenberg and director Ryan Morehead for helping him memorize lines.
They have been giving him the “advice I need to be a believable person on stage” and “nail his performance”, Gifford said.
