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This company loves 'Misery' By Erika Enigk Love hurts. And obsession can be agony. Or, in this case, "Misery." Adapted by Simon Moore from Stephen King's well-known novel, "Misery" seems an odd choice for a live show. People rarely go to the theater to be scared. But Bolingbrook's Theatre-on-the-Hill has delivered an enjoyably chilling version of the well-known tale. The production is an ambitious one, but director Michael Fudala has delivered a show with all the right elements. Good acting, a frightening story and some creepy prosthetic makeup set the stage for a terrifying night. Craig Engel stars as novelist Paul Sheldon, who, two weeks after a car accident in the snowy mountains, wakes up in the remote farmhouse of former nurse Annie Wilkes (Susan Brown-Wadleigh). She brings him back to health, gushing that she is his No. 1fan. But when she finds out her favorite character in Sheldon's award-winning series has died, Wilkes demands he write one more book to bring her back, and proceeds to terrorize him until the play's dramatic climax. It's difficult to picture anyone portraying Annie Wilkes, except for Kathy Bates, who played her in the film version. But Brown-Wadleigh performs the role with all the energy and enthusiasm required. She goes from an adoring, girlish fan to a raging madwoman and back without missing a beat. Engel, who also produced the show, has different challenges. Confined to his bed for most of the play, he often must match Brown-Wadleigh's passionate rages with no more than a dart of the eyes or shake of the head. His screams of terror (and aforementioned prosthetic makeup) more than do the job. He also has some zingy one-liners that I couldn't help laugh at despite the play's scary tones. The theater's intimate setting, coupled with the cozy feel of Wilkes' shabby farmhouse set, has the audience practically sitting at Sheldon's bedside, making the cruelty he suffers at the hands of Wilkes even more horrifying. Fans of the book and the film will enjoy this newest way to see their favorite scary story, and those who somehow missed the other versions might inspire themselves to check them out after seeing this show. Not for the squeamish, "Misery" contains some violence and profanity. IF YOU GO ... WHAT: Theatre-on-the-Hill's "Misery." |