By Eva Trieger in La Mesa, California
Stephen King’s 1987 novel Misery forms the basis for Lamplighters La Mesa’s current show by the same name. William Goldman’s screenplay, penned in 2012, is produced by Becky Cisneros with fine direction by Jenn Peters.
The show has only three characters, and the 90-minute act takes place in a remote farmhouse in Silver Creek, Colorado, where author Paul Sheldon (John Carroll) is rehabilitating after a car crash at the home of former nurse, Annie Wilkes (Rhiannon McAffe). The celebrated author has written a series of books about a heroine, Misery Chastain. Though the novels have brought him success and acclaim, he is eager to write something fresh, a complete departure from his 19th-century epic. Leaving the Victorian era behind, Sheldon writes a novel about life in Manhattan, filled with obscenities and graphic descriptions of New Yorkers.
His rescuer cum tormentor, Annie, reads Paul’s manuscript of his new novel and is horrified by the vulgarity of his work. After all, as his “number one fan” she is smitten with Misery Chastain, and doesn’t understand why Paul is compelled to write smut! She insists he destroy the new work and revive Misery.
Paul is wholly dependent upon Annie for food, water and painkillers. Annie is alternately tender, jocular, vicious and cruel. While the audience is never told, it seems reasonable that she is either bipolar or schizophrenic from her disparate reactions to Paul’s words and responses. Though she often appears nurturing and attentive, there are periods where she storms out of the farmhouse and leaves him on his own for stretches of time.
Throughout the play the relationship between captor and captive is vacillating. Annie insists Paul write another Misery novel where the protagonists returns from the dead. Paul initially refuses, but soon comes to understand that this may be his only ticket to freedom.
The acting in this play is really quite amazing! Annie (McAffe) is credible as a lonely woman who both adores this man and insists upon him maintaining a G-rated romantic style. When he does or says anything that offends her sensibilities, she flies into a rage and responds with cruelty and brutality. For his part, Carroll as Sheldon, initially grateful for Annie’s ministrations, quickly realizes he is in the hands of a madwoman. He artfully uses humor and psychology to work around her insanity.
The third character, Buster (Tom DeLorenzo), the town sheriff, arouses hope in the audience that our captive may be rescued. His dogged investigation certainly lends credence to that wish. He asks Annie questions and gathers information to help with his search for the missing author.
The play is a bit challenging if one is relying on the book because there are some departures, and the ending was a bit unclear to this reviewer. I definitely recommend seeing this play because the acting is superb, and if you are a Stephen King fan, or just eager to see a play with amazing, intricate character development…you’ll love it!
Tickets are available at boxoffice@lampligherslamesa.com or by phone 619 303 5092
*
Eva Trieger is a freelancer specializing in the coverage of the arts.