Molly Wilken may have heard the same lines over and over during the last month, but that doesn’t keep her from laughing at them.

That’s why the Albert Lea High School English and drama teacher chose to present Larry Shue’s comedy, “The Nerd,” as the spring play. The play opens tonight.

“I chose ‘The Nerd’ because I was familiar with the production, it has a character that everyone can relate to, and it makes me laugh,” Wilken said. “I knew that I wanted to do a comedy because I think people are more excited to go to a play expecting to laugh. Also, with all the depressing news going on in the country, people could use a good laugh to brighten their day.”

Set in Terre Haute, Ind., in late 1979, “The Nerd” presents the story of Willum Cubbert, an unassuming young architect, friends Tansy and Axel and unexpected houseguest Rick. During the course of the play, the audience learns that Rick had saved Willum’s life in Vietnam. Over the years, Willum and Rick had exchanged occasional letters and greeting cards, but they never met.

Willum has promised Rick that he could come to him for help at any time. While Willum is hosting a dinner party for his boss, Rick shows up. His awkward manner and inappropriate behavior throw the occasion into shambles. Rick decides to move in. Eventually at his wit’s end, Willum decides to take a chance on Axel’s plan to get rid of Rick.

Wilken said the challenge in directing the play is the timing. “The lines in this play are really fast and short, making it difficult for the cast to memorize and get out with a correct pace,” she said. “Timing is everything with comedies, and it has been a good challenge for me to teach the cast this.”

But she said she is very pleased with the cast.

Aaron Thomas plays Willum Cubbert, Ben Knutson is Axel Hammond, Katie Walker is Tansy McGinnis, Marley Cardona is Warnock Waldgrave, Kelly Nelson is Clelia Waldgrave, Stuart Behling is Thor Waldgrave and Zach Wilke is Rick Steadman. Jessica Sanderson is the technical manager.

Wilke said playing Rick is a lot of fun.

“He’s a character I’ve never played before,” said Wilke, a sophomore who was also in the fall musical and the one-act play this year. “It’s different, because he (Rick) is so socially awkward.”

Thomas describes Willum as a laid-back guy who is too nice to interfere in things — a pushover.

Thomas said he auditioned for the play because all his close friends were auditioning. “I heard it was going to be a fun play,” he said.

Now a junior, Thomas has been in every musical production since he was a freshman. He’s also been in some Albert Lea Community Theatre shows and was in the one-act play this year.

Knutson plays his friend and neighbor, Axel, who concocts a plan to get Rick out of the apartment.

“It’s a fun role and it suits me very well,” Knutson said.

Walker, a senior, said her character, Tansy, is on the obsessive-compulsive side. She cleans up Willum’s apartment, only to have Axel mess it up again. “She and Axel have a love-hate relationship,” she said.

Tansy’s been offered her dream job as a weather girl in Washington, but hates to leave Willum behind.

“It’s a fun role,” Walker said. “I’ve always played the naive, in-love fool. This time I’m playing more of a regular person instead of a fairy-tale character.”

Cardona, a sophomore, plays Willum’s uptight boss, Waldgrave. He said he usually gets a comedic role and is generally a pretty laid-back person, so it’s fun to play the opposite.

Nelson, a senior, plays his wife, who is pretty high-strung. She can release her stress by breaking “something small.”

Behling, a freshman, plays their son, Thor. “He’s a brattish child,” Behling said, explaining that his character spends much of his time in hiding in a closet or bedroom.

What: The Albert Lea High School production of “The Nerd”

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Where: Albert Lea High School Auditorium

How: Tickets are available at Doyle’s Hallmark, Addie’s Floral and at the door before performances. Cost is $5 for students and $8 for adults.

“It’s funny,” he said of the play. “I’ve seen it before.”

Wilken agreed. “This play is humorous both in physical comedy and witty lines. There is a whole scene where the cast has paper bags on their heads and I can’t help but laugh each time,” she said.

She thinks others will do the same.

“There is nothing like live theater. There is so much energy and life and as an audience you are much more involved than watching a movie or television,” Wilken said.

“This is a play where everyone can probably think of that person that was socially awkward and never picked up on social cues. My hope is that everyone will walk away with laughing at some point because then I know we have done our job,” she added.

Wilken said the play is probably best appreciated by teens and adults, not young children.