“Misery” is a 1987 novel by Stephen King that three years later made it to the silver screen starring Kathy Bates and James Caan, with the screenplay written by William Goldman. A few years later, Goldman and Simon Moore, separately adapted it many times for the stage for productions around the world. Act II is presenting the Goldman version of the play this October.
I don’t usually choose to attend thrillers or horror stuff. It’s not a genre that I prefer. But Act II’s outstanding productions of “Gaslight” and “Dial M for Murder” in recent years, made it a no brainer. I wasn’t disappointed as Director Mary Martello gave us two very real people, even if one of them did become scary as the play progressed.
It begins in the living room of the Colorado cabin of Annie Wilkes (Sabrina Profitt) where we find successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon (Christopher Patrick Mullen) in a hospital type bed, bandaged and with braces. He has just crashed on the snowy roads outside the town and Annie has rescued him. Annie was a nurse and has everything the victim needs. and brought him to her cabin. The road to the hospital was snow-covered, but fortunately, Annie has the tools and the medicines to care from him.
We quickly learn that she is a major fan of Paul Sheldon- to the point of worshipping him- and has read all of his eight “Misery” novels, loving the heroine, Misery Chastain. But in short order, the story takes a hard turn as she learns that he has done something in his newest book with the character, Misery, that she doesn’t like. She also doesn’t like the memoir he has been working on and tries to control his writing by withholding his meds or even hurting him. She is not just his Number 1 fan as she calls herself, she is obsessed with him and his writing to the point of a borderline personality disorder- she has extreme emotional reactions. It is not a horror story but a scary one because she is so real!
Meanwhile, Sheldon tries to deal with her from his bed and wheelchair, compromising his principles and fearful of what she might do, yet is grateful to her for saving his life.
I never saw the movie for which Kathy Bates won an Oscar, but I can’t imagine anyone better in the role than the multi-talented Sabrina Profitt. Christopher Patrick Mullen is also compelling in an understated way as a victim trying to just survive. And I would be remiss if I didn’t congratulate director Mary Martello for putting together this powerful piece of theater that was a 310-page novel, edited down by Goldman to an 1:47 film, and further edited to a 90-minute piece with just three actors.
Act II’s productions often sell out so I recommend getting tickets now to this extraordinary play, superbly performed on its Ambler stage.
“Misery” by Stephen King adapted for the stage by William Goldman at Act II Playhouse, 56 E. Butler Avenue., Ambler, PA 19002, 215-654-0200, act2.org thru November 9,, 2025
Philadelphia Theater Reviews by Frank Burd 