Fame has its definite drawbacks, and it乌鸦传媒檚 a lesson Paul Sheldon learned the hard way.
His legs are broken, bones protruding at jaunty angles as a result of a wintry car crash somewhere in rural Colorado. But mangled bones are the least of his worries as his captor and number-one fan, Annie Wilkes, turns tormentor.
That乌鸦传媒檚 the premise of Stephen King乌鸦传媒檚 chilling psychological thriller Misery, which Arts Club Theatre Company brings to the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre stage Jan. 30.
乌鸦传媒淚 had sort of known about it from quotes from the movie: 乌鸦传媒榗ockadoodie乌鸦传媒� and 乌鸦传媒楳r. Man,乌鸦传媒� but I hadn乌鸦传媒檛 seen it because I乌鸦传媒檓 not a horror fan,乌鸦传媒� said Lucia Frangione, who dons Wilkes乌鸦传媒� homely garb in the two-hour production.
Despite her aversion to the genre, it乌鸦传媒檚 a role Frangione has put to purpose after recently reading Misery, which King wrote after battling and eventually overcoming a cocaine addiction.
乌鸦传媒淎nnie Wilkes embodies his addiction. Cocaine was his number-one fan,乌鸦传媒� Frangione said. 乌鸦传媒淲hen I read it, I thought it can乌鸦传媒檛 be horror; it乌鸦传媒檚 a psychological thriller.乌鸦传媒�
While King may have been actually writing about the harrowing struggle of living with an addiction, Misery at its roots is a story meant to entertain and terrify, Frangione said.
And it乌鸦传媒檚 a story that rose to Hollywood fame with the 1990 film adaptation that won Kathy Bates four awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama, for her portrayal of Wilkes.
乌鸦传媒淚 didn乌鸦传媒檛 watch it because I didn乌鸦传媒檛 want to compare myself to Kathy Bates,乌鸦传媒� Frangione said of the film. 乌鸦传媒淲hen you play something iconic like this, it乌鸦传媒檚 big shoes to fill.乌鸦传媒�
Though, it乌鸦传媒檚 a story and set that comes alive on stage.
乌鸦传媒淲hat we do have over the movie is it乌鸦传媒檚 live,乌鸦传媒� Frangione said, adding that audience members have lauded the Arts Club Performance above the film adaptation. 乌鸦传媒淵ou can乌鸦传媒檛 get so gruesome (in live theatre). It乌鸦传媒檚 more about the psychological horror. There乌鸦传媒檚 a bit of humour that balances out the play as well.乌鸦传媒�
Set largely in Wilkes乌鸦传媒� home and with a focus on the bedroom of Paul Sheldon (Andrew McNee), Frangione said the set is brought to life with set design by Lauchlin Johnston, costume design by Stephanie Kong and lighting design by Andrew Pye.
乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 why it lends itself so well to (theatre) adaptations. It primarily takes between two people in one location,乌鸦传媒� Frangione said. 乌鸦传媒淭his was a rare opportunity for the Arts Club to really have fun with the sets and props. It乌鸦传媒檚 very much a character in the play, the house itself.乌鸦传媒�
For Frangione, Misery is also an opportunity to test out a role that is primarily dominated by male characters.
乌鸦传媒淭his is the first time in my career I乌鸦传媒檝e played a real villain,乌鸦传媒� said the 30-year theatre veteran, adding that female villains often fall under the femme fatale archetype. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 just a real joy to experience that for the first time.乌鸦传媒�
And with Annie Wilkes, often regarded as one of King乌鸦传媒檚 most horrifying antagonists, Frangione relishes in that villainous experience.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 been very fun to make people leap in their seats.乌鸦传媒�
Arts Club Theatre Company presents William Goldman乌鸦传媒檚 Misery, based on the novel by Stephen King, as part of the 2017/18 theatre series Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $45 adult, $42 senior 60-and-up and $40 student through the Ticket Seller, 250-549-7469, .
