Before seeing the play “Misery” based on Stephen King’s best-selling 1987 novel with William Goldman’s 2012 stage adaptation, I thought “Psycho” was the scariest movie I had seen.
I will admit, I have never read King’s books nor seen the movie version of the same name. After sitting through an entire production of Misery though, (sometimes covering my eyes) and having the bejeasus scared out of me more than once at the opening night performance of Back Yard Renaissance Theatre’s production, “Psycho” was a piece of cake.
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| Maggie Carney and Francis Gercke |
Misery, a double entendre, or the misery Paul Sheldon, our hero, suffers under the care of ‘his number one fan’ Annie Wilkes (Maggie Carney) and the name of the leading character in a series of books he wrote, Misery Chastain, is set before us.
Paul (Francis Gerche) is a famous novelist who gets stranded in a snow blizzard on some god forsaken country road in a rather unpopulated area of Colorado. Annie, who just happens to be following him, saves him from freezing to death, takes him home and nurses his injuries, and there are many, after his car crashes. ("Will I be able to walk?" "Of course you will. And your arm will be fine, too. Your shoulder was dislocated pretty badly, but I finally popped it back in there. But what I'm most proud of is the work I did on those legs. Considering what I had around the house, I don't think there's a doctor who could have done any better.")
Oh! But there is a price to pay!
Since she has read his entire series of books about Misery, she is unhappy with the ending of the last one. Killing off Misery and calling the book filthy, she cajoles him to write the book she wants to read not the one she just finished.
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| Frances Gercke and Maggie Carney |
From there it is all a downhill battle of the survival of the best between the two. Psychological? Yes. Eerie? Yes. Mind bending? Yes. Captivating? Yes. Exhausting? Yes. Horrifying? Yes. And any other adjective you want to use to describe the atmosphere created in the theatre by director MJ Sieber, and of course Gercke and Carney. Alex Guzman plays the part of the congenial local law person, Buster who makes an appearance at Annie’s door every now and then giving hope that everything will be OK. Well, not so much, since Annie has a cure for him as well.
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| Frances Gercke and Maggie Carnie |
Without the fantastic cast assembled by MJ Sieber, or in anyone else’s hands I can’t imagine what the outcome would look like. Carney, who works in L.A. and has come to SD just for this role, is the perfect fit as the split personality Annie... raging one moment and reading to him the next; praising him and praying for him. She’s like a chameleon. Gercke, in unbelievable physical shape, is a study in mind willing body to do the physically impossible. It’s exhausting to watch him maneuver by just moving his upper body. You have to see for yourselves.
The entire backstage crew sets the tone for BYR to stretch its wings and come up with this lollapalooza of a production.
Set and properties designer by Yi-Chien Lee, designed a single set with several rooms to move about. Technical director Keegan Graham. Lighting designer Curtis Miller sets the mood with shades of lighting. Sound designer Logan Kirkendall gives us many different sounds to set our minds to. Special effects(lots of rain and thunder) by Jeffrey Neitzel. Costume design Jessica John Gercke. Stage manager Anna Younce.
For Stephen King fans who have read his books and seen this movies you will notice that the stage play as written by Goldman is a bit different from both. For those like moi who has seen neither, it won’t make a difference. But to purists, ‘it is what it is’ so sit back, grab on to your partner's arm and scream out loud if you so desire.
See you at the theatre.
When: Opens 7:30 p.m. Saturday and runs through Dec. 7. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays
Where: Tenth Avenue Arts Center, 930 Tenth Ave., downtown
Tickets: $18-$40
Photo: Daren Scott
Phone: 760-975-7189
Online: backyardrenaissance.com
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