Big Dawg's masterful stage version of 'Misery' scares up riveting performances

"Misery," William Goldman's stage adaptation of author Stephen King's 1987 novel, has come to haunt the Ruth and Bucky Stein Studio Theatre at Thalian Hall in downtown Wilmington with performances through Oct. 30.

Goldman is best remembered as one of the most prolific and skilled screenwriters of the 20th century's last four decades, winning Academy Awards for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "All the President's Men." He is most beloved for the novel "The Princess Bride" and its movie adaptation.

In his 1990 screenplay for "Misery" and this script, Goldman demonstrates a fascination with what it means to exist as a human in pain.

The play is carved into a 90-minute slice from King's roughly 400-page book. Goldman wastes no time in introducing us to the protagonist, Paul Sheldon, famed for his seven Victorian romances on the loves and tribulations of Misery Chastain. But Paul wants to write gritty literary fiction and has just finished what he believes is his release from Misery's grip on his creative life.

Paul leaves the Colorado lodge where he has been writing, only to lose control of his car in the snow. He's rescued from the wreckage by former nurse Annie Wilkes, who takes Paul to her remote farmhouse for him to convalesce.

As the action rolls out, we learn that Annie was stalking Paul, aware he was writing at the lodge, and able to save him because she was in close pursuit. She encourages him to write, but is dismayed by the coarse language of the manuscript in his briefcase.

Annie picks up a copy of Paul's latest "Misery" novel and is enraged – he killed off the heroine in childbirth. She insists that he revive the heroine, forcing Paul to burn his new draft and start work on a resurrection story. She withholds pain medication and further immobilizes him.

Randy Davis directs the show for Big Dawg Productions, leaning heavily on the considerable acting talents of company artistic director Steve Vernon as Paul, the estimable Holli Sapersteina as Annie and actor-playwright Chase Harrison as Sheriff Buster.

Saperstein sinks into Annie's pathology, pulling out the character's awkward helpfulness in the early pages and riding the wave of Annie's increasing paranoia into a gleeful malevolence. From her first utterance of the words "I'm your No. 1 fan," Saperstein more than hints at Annie's obsession and its descent into sadism.

Vernon does about 75 percent of his acting from a bed. It's a master class in using nothing but vocal nuance to convey everything from an eye-roll at Annie's effusive praise to barely contained terror when he realizes how helpless he is.

Balanced against Paul's expressions of pain – the cries and groans are often enough to cause genuine concern for the actor – Vernon also delivers on the script's humor. When Paul is confronted with burning his manuscript on a barbecue grill, he suggests he was thinking of something else for a snack.

Harrison's sheriff is perfectly tuned, from an "Aw shucks, ma'am" ease to raised eyebrow and pistol-drawn suspicion.

High marks, too, go to Donna Troy for her split-screen set and Cole Marquis' lighting design, which complements each strange turn of events.

This isn’t a play for children, as there are depictions of graphic violence. Still, Big Dawg's "Misery" is more delicious than Spam meatloaf with a side of Novril.

Contact StarNews arts and entertainment at 910-343-2343.

WANT TO GO?

What: "Misery," presented by Big Dawg Productions

When: 7:30 p.m. October 28-29, 3 p.m. Oct. 29-30

Where: Thalian Hall's Ruth and Bucky Stein Studio Theatre, 310 Chestnut St., Wilmington.

Info: Tickets are $34.24.

Details: 910-632-2285 or ThalianHall.org.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Big Dawg Productions' 'Misery' at Thalian Hall in downtown Wilmington