Bill Bray introduces our November production:
Expect Thrills and Chills with this Misery!
For readers of thrillers the name Stephen King will be sufficient inducement to book for our next production. King is the wildly successful American author of fifty or so novels, most of which have been massive sellers across the world. His novel 'Misery', adapted for the stage by Simon Moore, was the product of a snooze on a Concorde flight from New York to London in the early 1980s. He dreamt up the plot about a popular writer who fell into the clutches of a psychotic fan after a road accident. He just had time, after his nap and before the plane landed, to jot the story down on an American Airlines cocktail napkin and put it in his pocket. He couldn't sleep with jet-lag on his first night in London at Brown's Hotel and fished out the napkin. Not wanting to disturb his wife, he asked the night receptionist if there was a quiet place where he could write. There was a beautiful cherrywood desk on the second floor landing where he would not be disturbed. After sixteen pages of longhand, and several cups of tea, he had roughed out the story of 'Misery'. He thanked the receptionist for letting him use the beautiful desk. "So glad you enjoyed it", was the reply. "It belonged to Rudyard Kipling and he died while he was writing at it. Of a stroke." King later said that it was information he could have done without.
His first draft was the bare bones of the situation but was not the complete story. King likes the characters to take him where they want to go and in 'Misery' he was constantly surprised at the twists in their plot. The ending was not at all like his original idea. I think you will be surprised, too, in the stage version. You may have seen the film adaptation for which Kathy Bates won a Best Actress Oscar and Golden Globe award for her performance. James Caan was nominated but was pipped at the post at the 1991 Oscars. Book early for this scary Stephen King treat.
Director Ross Holland writes:
English writer Paul Sheldon is the author of a series of best-selling Romantic Fiction novels, and each year he flies to America and drives up into the Colorado hills to write his next novel. After celebrating the completion of his latest book rather too well, he spins off the road when he hits some bad weather and is badly injured.
When he awakes some weeks later, he finds himself trapped in a farmhouse, being nursed by his "number one fan", a schizophrenic loner and ex-Nurse, Annie Wilkes. When she discovers that his new novel is not about his Victorian heroine, Misery Chastain, she forces him to destroy the manuscript, then withholds pain killers and tortures him until he agrees to write a new Misery book, one chapter a day.
This is a play about obsession, both Annie's and Paul's. It twists and turns through a gripping plot, much like the Chapter Films of the Saturday Morning Pictures that had such an impact on Annie in her childhood. We are extremely fortunate to have the services of two first-class actors for this production. Carol La Roche is magnificent as Annie, and will keep you guessing right to the end. David Webster as Paul brings all his experience to a rôle which requires immense concentration and variety.
On a personal note, it has been a fantastic journey for me as it is 7 years since my last outing as a director, and I would like to extend my thanks to all who have given me help and encouragement - you know who you are!
Lastly, I should of course mention that this play is probably unsuitable for children or those of a nervous disposition, and there is (understandably) some strong language. |