Yellow Tree Theatre is remounting
their 2023 production of Misery, but with an all new cast, and it's just as thrilling as before! The stage adaptation of Stephen King's 1987 novel is relatively new, written by William Goldman, screenwriter of the 1990 movie. This story of a popular novelist's "number one fan" and the lengths she goes to is set in 1987, but it's themes of unhealthy obsession, mental illness, and violence are very timely. As returning director John Catron says in a note in the program, "This is not a story about monsters. This is a story about people pushed to their narrative breaking points. It's a sloppy beautiful mess of love, insecurity, fanaticism, co-dependence and addition. It's a story about the violence that is all around us and within us. If it's 1987. If it's 2025." What follows is
my review of the 2023 production, updated to reflect the new cast, who absolutely make this worth seeing again. Or if you missed it last time, this is your chance to enjoy this tight thriller on Yellow Tree's cozy and intimate stage (
continuing through October 19).
 |
Paul (Dustin Bronson) and Annie (Laura Esping)
(photo by Alex Clark) |
In case you haven't seen the movie in a while (like me), here's the general story: author Paul Sheldon is in a car accident (or is it?) in rural Colorado, where he's been writing his latest novel. He's "rescued" by Annie, who calls herself his "number one fan" (scarier words have never been spoken). Except that Annie's fandom borders on obsession, and she lies to Paul about the conditions of the road and the phone line in order to keep him there under her control. While he's held up there, the latest in his
Misery series of novels is released and Annie excitedly reads it. Until she reads the death scene of the title character, and then things take a turn. Already showing signs of abusive control towards Paul, she now forces Paul to unwrite Misery's death in a new novel, threatening to withhold pain medication and food. Things go from bad to worse, as Paul tries to escape and fails. And how this story ends... well, even if you know, it's still thrilling to watch it play out. Spoiler alert: neither one escapes unscathed.
 |
Annie (Laura Esping) feeds Paul (Dustin Bronson)
(photo by Alex Clark) |
#TCTheater actor John Catron turns his hand to directing here, and if this is an example of his direction work, I hope to see more of it. The story is perfectly placed, the tension slowly builds throughout, and necessary moments of dark humor punctuate the intense story. As Paul, Dustin Bronson is lying in bed when the audience enters the theater and spends half of the play there, later transitioning to a wheelchair and desperately rolling himself one-armed around the space. Dustin is so great at portraying Paul's physical pain, as well as his emotional pain and eventual determination to escape, with many layers to his performance as Paul pretends to be sweet and compliant, all the while plotting and planning, then giving up the facade and being outright defiant. Laura Esping is deliciously terrifying as Annie. She can go from sweet and childlike admiration to diabolical cruelty in a heartbeat. Her Annie is truly scary, but you almost feel sorry for her and wonder who hurt her so badly that she turned into this violent obsessive. This play truly is a showcase for two great actors, and Dustin and Laura step up to the plate and knock it out of the park. But it's only mostly a two-hander; Chance Carroll appears in a few scenes in the small but pivotal role of the sheriff.
 |
Annie (Laura Esping) and the Sheriff (Chance Carroll)
(photo by Alex Clark) |
Scenic designer Justin Hooper makes the most of the small stage, with the bedroom in the center surrounded by a half wall (and even half doors), behind which we can see the rest of Annie's house, including the kitchen where she prepares Paul's food and serves a romantic (?) dinner. Detailed props include mock-ups of the
Misery books, a signed photo of Paul, a vintage typewriter, pill bottles, dinnerware, and more. The lighting design helps us know where to direct our attention, with flashes of lightning and other effects amping up the tension, as does the sound design. Paul is dressed mostly in sleepwear, and Annie's simple prairie dresses reinforce her childlike quality. And kudos to fight choreographer Mike Lubke for creating some scarily realistic altercations between our two lead characters. (Props design by Brandt Roberts, sound design by Jeff Bailey, lighting design by Kathy Maxwell, and costume design by Samantha Fromm Haddow.)
A fan kidnaps her favorite author and forces him to write a book to her liking - it's an appealing idea; what
Game of Thrones fan doesn't want to lock George R.R. Martin in a room and make him
finish what he started over 30 years ago? And I certainly have my literary character obsessions whom I never want to die (Diana Gabaldon better hire a team of bodyguards if she ever kills, or even breaks up,
Claire and Jamie). But in the hands of Stephen King via William Goldman via the Yellow Tree team, these almost relatable impulses of a fan become a nightmare. But an entertaining one that's fun to be on the outside of.
See Misery at Yellow Tree Theatre in Osseo now through October 19. If you want to make a night of it out in the 'burbs, dining options in Osseo are limited but nearby Maple Grove has a plethora of choices.
