\ud83c\udfad NEW! Sacramento Theatre Newsletter<\/p>\n
The B St. Theatre is kicking off its 40th anniversary season with an ambitious piece, and if you\u2019ve never seen a show there, you should make this current production your first. You\u2019ll become their number one fan, just like Annie Wilkes in this adaptation of Stephen King\u2019s 1987 novel, Misery. William Goldman, who adapted both the film and stage versions, appreciated the story\u2019s psychological battle, which is brought to life with suspense and unexpected humor under John Lamb\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfad NEW! Sacramento Theatre Newsletter<\/p>\n
Lamb\u2019s love of the genre shines through with claustrophobic tension made prominent by Eric Broadwater\u2019s set design. We\u2019re able to look into the isolated world of Paul Sheldon as silent voyeurs who want to yell for help but are constrained by an invisible fourth wall.<\/p>\n
As you might already know, Paul Sheldon is the successful author of a series about a young, unfortunately named woman \u2013 Misery. The title serves as a double entendre of sorts, as Paul is about to endure the most miserable time of his life. After crashing his car in a snowstorm, he wakes up in an unfamiliar room. Hovering over him is a seemingly helpful fan. His self-professed number one fan, Annie Wilkes. He\u2019s lucky that she happened to be following him and saw him go off the road, she says. Indeed.<\/p>\n
Real-life married duo Elisabeth Nunziato and Jason Kuykendall play Annie and Paul, lending a unique dynamic to the relationship between the characters. There\u2019s never a sense that they\u2019re acting. Their dialogue is effortless, and Kuykendall\u2019s restraint and reclamation of power is a soothing antidote to the suspense built up by Nunziato\u2019s brilliant oscillation between nurturer and villain. Nunziato elicits moments of sympathy from the audience \u2013 a damaged soul who might have been good, if only circumstances were different. That doesn\u2019t mean we aren\u2019t cheering for Kuykendall. We are. Knowing the story, I was uncomfortably anticipating certain scenes and was thankful that the stage version favors suspense over gore. The modifications are clever, including a pivotal scene in which John Lamb\u2019s Buster becomes a little too curious. The characters boast subtlety, intellect, and an unwavering commitment to coming out victorious. Misery depends on it.<\/p>\n
B St. gets it right every time.<\/p>\n
Misery plays at the B St. Theatre through February 15th. Tickets may be purchased online at BStreetTheatre.org, at the Box Office at 2700 Capitol Avenue, or by telephone at (916) 443-5300.<\/p>\n
Photo credit: Tara Sissom Pittaro<\/p>\n
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Reader Reviews<\/p>\n
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