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Its name may suggest it before it even begins, but ‘Misery’ is definitely not for the faint-hearted, following the story of an author in turmoil when he is imprisoned in a basement by an obsessed fan following a car accident in which his legs have been crippled. It is a combination of Paul Sheldon’s anxiety as he is continuously beaten down, and Annie Wilkes’ disturbing mindset, that makes for a tense, heart-stopping tale.
An audience with a prior knowledge to the plot no doubt entered on tenterhooks, and were greeted by atmospheric guitar music, the same which was also played in between each change of scene, and did, admittedly, start to become slightly tedious towards the end, especially with the length of the pauses. It was particularly well performed, though, by only two actors, both of whom took on their roles excellently.
Adapted for the stage by Simon Moore, ‘Misery’ was bound to keep its audience on the edge of their seats, in keeping with the well-known twists and turns of King’s writing. The content of the play itself must definitely be noted initially, and with some scenes of violence and regular use of strong language, it wouldn’t be wise to be recommended for a younger audience. It is almost sickening to watch Sheldon’s character seemingly spiralling away from reality as he is led into a drug addiction to painkillers by his captor, and it is a plot like this that prevents it from being to the liking of everyone’s taste.
Although the entirety of the performance did just as was expected of it, building up tension and injecting a disturbing ambience that didn’t fail to keep the audience tense and wanting more, the ending came somewhat bluntly, seeming as though the writer grew bored and rushed to wrap up the story.
Whatever the failures of the final act, it can safely be said that many of the audience left the auditorium at the interval with a considerable chill down their spines and a temptation to glance over their shoulders.
Hayley Bean
Sudbury Upper School
13th March 2010
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