“Misery”

For those who might not know the storyline, “Misery” is about an author, Paul Sheldon ( played to perfection by Steve Key) who has written a series of novels with his main character named “Misery”. When the curtain opens ( there is no curtain, so let’s say when the lights come up) we find that he has had an auto accident, allegedly, and is being cared for and tended to by Annie Wilkes ( a diabolical performance  by WandaChristine), his “number one fan”.

We learn that Sheldon has killed Misery off, and Annie cannot and will not accept this. Her life depends on Misery going on and finding happiness, and she will do whatever she needs to in order to keep her character alive. During the 90 minutes of theater, we watch the two characters struggle with their needs and desires and since it is a mystery, I will not give away the  actual things that do occur, but every minute is spellbinding, keeping us glued to these strong personalities. The performances are gritty and very realistic. There is also a third character, Buster, a deputy ( Cisco Lopez), who is searching for the missing author when reported that he is in fact missing. Buster comes back later when Sheldon’s empty car is found.

The play is filled with twists and turns that Kays paints with a fine tooth comb. Every move is like we are watching a chess match, waiting to see who will check who. It is exciting and invigorating and makes for great theater. Shayna Patel’s set is the interior of a cabin somewhere in Colorado. We see the bedroom where Sheldon is held prisoner and the kitchen, as well as the outside yard. The props ( and there are oh so many) by Nicolas Bartleson are amazingly accurate . The violence design, a very important part of this production, is done by Nick Sandys, who truly is a specialist in this art form. Michael Trudeau’s lighting and Joe Court’s sound are right on and the costumes by Lily Walls complete the tech aspects of the production.

If you remember the film, you will want to see this amazing production. While you might think you are being asked to compare, this is a unique production that is filled with  action that is happening while you watch and unlike a film where they can cut and splice, this is taking place right before your eyes and the suspense shines! The play ends a little differently than the film, and I truly liked this ending better. Far better!