Misery hits Neptune stage this week

Misery would love some company this weekend, as the adaptation of the Stephen King classic hits the Neptune Theatre stage

CITYnews halifax \ Jordan Parker

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Misery would love some company this weekend, as the adaptation of the Stephen King classic hits the Neptune Theatre stage.

Neptune’s Artistic Director Jeremy Webb also directs here. He saw the challenge of bringing the classic material to Halifax as a great opportunity.

“I grew up as a teenager reading the book. I also enjoyed the film. I knew that a thriller in this time period and this slot would be perfect,” he said.

Webb has been chasing the rights to the William Goldman play – made most famous due to the classic 1990 movie, starring James Caan and featuring an Oscar-winning performance from Kathy Bates.

“The rights always seemed to be tied up. I tried to do it in my first year in this role. But once they became available, it was just a no-brainer,” he said.

The Neptune staff aren’t strangers to adapting classic works – from Billy Elliot and Shakespeare In Love to their recent Rocky Horror Picture Show – and Webb enjoys dealing with important source material.

“It’s not daunting. It’s a responsibility, but something we love to do. People will remember the movie, but they may not remember a lot of the nuances,” he said.

“There is so much for a theatre audience to sink their teeth into. It’s almost romantic in a way, this story between these characters, as they develop a closeness and co-dependency.

Misery follows romance writer Paul Sheldon, whose rescue from a car crash soon becomes a hostage situation. Super-fan Annie Wilkes is distraught over his ending to a recent manuscript, and holds him until he changes it to her liking. The two enter a psychological power struggle that can only end in tragedy.

Webb says his 20-year-old self would be elated to know he’s adapting the work that influenced him so heavily.

“I just really went through this huge Stephen King phase, and I think Nova Scotians will respond to this too. They’ll definitely appreciate the isolation of the winter locale,” he said.

“The weather really keeps these two characters together, and there are points where you wonder how isolated they really are – there are a lot of mistruths going on.”

Just three actors will take the stage for the play, with Andrew Bigelow as Buster, and the lion’s share of performance work going to Hugh Thomas as Sheldon and Samantha Wilson as Wilkes.

“We’ve got an amazing cast of three. Hugh and Samantha really dove into this material. It was their enthusiasm and acting ability that got them these roles,” he said.

“I can trust them to bring so much to the table, and they really only leave the stage for a matter of minutes throughout the whole play.”

Wilson steps into the shoes of “Number One Fan” Annie Wilkes, and gets to put her own spin on a famed character.

“It truly is an iconic role. It’s so much fun, and she’s complex. It’s been interesting getting into her backstory, and seeing why she is the way she is. I had no issues getting into character, and hopefully that doesn’t say too much about me,” joked Wilson.

One formidable presence has loomed over the role for over 30 years – that of screen presence Kathy Bates. But that was something Wilson had to push aside.

“I had to just get over that. I can’t be Kathy Bates. I’m not in a movie. I had to make this woman my own, the way you would any part,” she said.

Wilson says the Wilkes character is incredible, and feels fortunate to be able to show so much depth.

“She’s so layered, and this is such a fun ride to be a part of. We can’t wait to pull the audience along for this one,” she said.

Webb tries to keep the time of year in mind when he programs a play, and thinks he found a sweet spot for the fast-selling Misery.

“I look at special events going on, and this is a perfect Halloween play. It’s taking place during HalCon, and I know that audience would get a kick out of this. They’re right across the street, which is great,” he said.

“It’s scary, dark, and so funny. People with a dark sense of humour will love it. It’s a wonderful, intense show, and I know that’s how I love my theatre.”

Though he’s intensely proud of the actors involved, he also says the creative team has gone to town on the set design.

“It’s pretty amazing people will see a giant production even though there are three actors on stage. This team has pulled out all the stops,” he said. “I can’t spoil it, but it’s so cinematic and epic in scale.”

Misery plays from October 14 to November 6 on the Fountain Hall Stage. For more information, visit Neptune Theatre’s website.