Misery
William Goldman
Based on the Novel by Stephen King
Palo Alto Players
I feel compelled to make an upfront confession: I have never read a Stephen King novel; and while I do enjoy the suspense and thriller aspects of Alfred Hitchcock or Rod Sterling, I have never been a fan of the ever-popular genre of horror. It was thus with slight trepidation that I stepped into the Lucie Stern Theatre to witness William Goldman’s 2015, Broadway-premiering stage version of screenwriter Goldman’s 1990 film Misery based on the 1987 novel by the man known as the “King of Horror.” And while I cringed and turned away my head during a couple of the more gruesome, bone-rattling (and -cracking) scenes, I must admit that Palo Alto Players is currently staging a well-directed, superbly acted thriller that is guaranteed to please Stephen King aficionados and maybe even win over the non-horror fan like me.
For my complete review, please proceed to Talkin’Broadway.
Rating: 4 E
Misery continues through February 4, 2024, in production by Palo Alto Players at the Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA. Tickets are available online at www.paplayers.org or by calling 650-329-0891.
Please Note from the Production’s Program: This production is recommended for ages 17 and older. Misery is rated R and contains onstage violence, gunshots, and strong adult language.
Photo Credit: Scott Lasky
