MIsery
A Gripping Psychological Thriller
Playwright: William Goldman based on his film based on Stephen King's novel
Directed by Zane Fleming
Synopsis
Dolphin Theatre presents "Misery," an intense and captivating stage adaptation of Stephen King's acclaimed novel. Directed by Zane Fleming, this psychological thriller takes the audience on a gripping journey through the twisted mind of an obsessive fan.
When romance novelist Paul Sheldon finds himself trapped in a secluded location after a devastating car crash, he is taken care of by his self-proclaimed number one fan, Annie Wilkes. As Paul's injuries confine him to a wheelchair, he becomes increasingly aware of Annie's unstable and obsessive nature.
As the snowstorm rages outside, Paul discovers that his rescue might not be what it seems. Locked in a battle of wits with his captor, he must find a way to escape before it's too late. The line between reality and fiction blurs as Annie's love for Paul's novels takes a dark and dangerous turn.
In this thrilling production, the talented cast delivers powerful performances, portraying the psychological tension and chilling dynamics between the characters. Prepare to be on the edge of your seat as the suspense unfolds, exploring themes of obsession, manipulation, and the power of the human mind.
Don't miss "Misery" at Dolphin Theatre—an unforgettable theatrical experience that will leave you breathless.
WARNING:
THIS SHOW CONTAINS STROBE EFFECTS THAT MAYBE UNSUTIBLE FOR SOME PEOPLE.
THIS SHOW ALSO CONTAINS INTENSE SCENES INVOLVING VIOLENCE, coarse language AND MANIPULATIVE ACTION.
Misery IS RECOMMENDED FOR MATURE AUDIENCES.
The Novelist
Stephen King
Stephen King, born in 1947, is an iconic American author known for his prolific and influential contributions to the horror genre. His novel "Misery" stands as a chilling masterpiece that showcases King's unparalleled ability to create suspense and psychological terror. Published in 1987, "Misery" tells the gripping story of an acclaimed author held captive by his biggest fan, who subjects him to a nightmarish ordeal. King's vivid and immersive storytelling, coupled with his deep exploration of human nature and obsession, has captivated readers worldwide. With his unmatched talent for crafting chilling narratives, Stephen King has solidified his place as a true master of horror literature.
The Playwright
William Goldman
William Goldman (1931-2018) was an acclaimed American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. Known for his versatile writing style, Goldman made significant contributions to the world of literature and film. He received widespread recognition for his novels, including "The Princess Bride" and "Marathon Man," which were later adapted into successful films. In addition to his novels, Goldman achieved great success as a screenwriter, earning Academy Awards for his work on films such as "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "All the President's Men." His ability to craft captivating stories filled with wit, suspense, and memorable characters cemented his legacy as a master storyteller.
The Director
Zane Fleming
You'll normally find Zane treading the boards himself, but for "Misery," he's decided to mix it up and take on a different role. This will be the 6th production he has directed. He first tested out the Director's chair in 2018's Dolphin Theatre One Act Play Season, directing the New Zealand Premiere of Lin Manuel Miranda's "21 Chump Street," which won Best One Act Play that year. In 2019, he had the privilege of directing the Auckland Premiere of "Time Stands Still" by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies, which was extremely well received by audiences. He then went on to direct the junior production of "Pride & Prejudice" for Onehunga High School and the hit musical "Tick, Tick... BOOM!" under his own theatre company, "Masked Productions," in 2022. Now, returning to direct the Onehunga High School year 11, 12 & 13 Drama class's season of "Holmes and The Ripper" by Brian Clemens (October 17th – 20th, Dolphin Theatre), he is excited to take on this Stephen King classic. He can't wait for you to see what he and his team have to offer.
Director’s Notes
MISERY is an iconic Stephen King who broke the mould when he gave life to the chaotic and unhinged mind of Annie Wilkes - a daunting character for any actress to play. We then experienced the career-defining performance from Kathy Bates which is burned into people’s memory. When we think of psychopathic killers Kathy’s Annie is the image that pops into your mind. So without Kathy or James Caan here to play these roles, how do we approach bringing a story people know so well from the book and film to a the stage for an audience? An audience who will have expectations based on their previous experience of this material. I will not recreate the film - I want my production to stand on its own, telling the same story in a new light, paying homage to its predecessors but standing on its own two feet. I am excited to work with why cast and crew to retell this classic horror in an authentic way. Don’t worry though - we’ll still make good use of Annie’s sledgehammer!
Cast
Scott Harding
Scott's last appearance on the Dolphin stage was in last year's Sneak Peek night, and prior to that in the 2021 One Act production of Bonking James Bond. As a huge Stephen King fan, Scott is incredibly excited to be part of the Auckland premiere of MIsery, working with a talented cast and crew and marvelling about the intricacies of painting shattered legs!
Rebekkah Schoonbeek-Berridge
Rebekkah is a professional dancer, choreographer, singer and actress living in Tāmaki Makaurau. Founder of dynamic dance theatre company Luck & Schooney, Rebekkah’s theatre credits include work with Auckland Theatre Company on Shortland Street The Musical (featuring the original cast recording) and Chicago. She has also appeared in television programmes and advertisements as well as in multiple music videos.
Rebekkah has danced for many live events (X-Factor, TV3, Blues Rugby) and has choreographed and performed for several festivals. She received the ‘Stand out Female Performer Award’ at Short and Sweet Dance Festival 2015 for her contemporary piece, The Crickets Have Arthritis. In 2016 she completed a month at the Banff Arts Centre in Canada as part of the contemporary Indigenous Dance Residency. Rebekkah has recently finished her Postgraduate Diploma in dance studies at Auckland University and appeared on the Dolphin stage earlier this year in the One Acts production of Picket Fence People.
Kimberly Prosa
Kimberly is a dancer, choreographer, actress & teaching artist from New York City. She is a current Dance Studies doctoral candidate at the University of Auckland and holds a BFA from the Purchase Conservatory of Dance and an MA. from New York University. Highlights among Kimberly’s performance career include seven years as a dancer with the Bessie Award winning H.T. Chen and Dancers as well as serving as a double for Natalie Portman in the dance film, Black Swan, among working with numerous dance companies and independent choreographers including Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre, Susan Marshall, Paul Taylor, Aera Dance, The Love Show, and more. As an actress, Kimberly was a member of the Michael Chekhov Theatre Company and the Actors Project Theatre.
As a choreographer, Kimberly was a recent recipient of a choreographic fellowship with the Leimay Foundation and her work has been shown at New York venues and festivals including: the Connelly Theater, Manhattan Movement Arts, Shetler Studios, Triskelion Arts, The Fertile Ground series, Riverside Church Theatre & more. In 2016, she was selected as one of ten emerging New York choreographers to create an original work for the “Voices Transposed” series, an artistic collaboration in partnership with the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHCR) to raise awareness and support for the Syrian Refugee crisis.
Nick Brown
Nick holds a BA (Hons), an MA, and a Ph.D., all in Drama, Theatre & Performance. He trained as an actor at the Guildford School of Acting. Notable roles in NZ: George Banks in Mary Poppins (The Civic; G&T); Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd (NAPTA Best Actor Award); Bruce Delamitri in Popcorn (ACTT Best Actor Award); Molokov in Chess (AMT); Richard Firmin in The Phantom of the Opera (The Civic; G&T). West End: Franklin Shepherd in Merrily We Roll Along (Mermaid Theatre); Pierre in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Barbican); Party Pieces (Fortune Theatre).
Nick has directed over 50 plays and musicals, in London, Rome, Bermuda, and New York. Nick’s direction in schools has garnered: three iTicket Showdown Best Direction awards; two Shakespeare’s Globe Centre New Zealand awards for Outstanding Direction; the Auckland Live Outstanding Production award for his reimagining of Les Misérables in 2019. Nick’s direction of The Laramie Project in 2021 was also awarded the NAPTA award for Best Direction.
Romain Mereau
Romain Mereau is a graduate of Atlantic Acting School in New York. He was most recently in Kimberly Akimbo at Dolphin Theatre. Other shows include Masked Productions’ The Way We Get By at the PumpHouse Theatre; The Country House, Arcadia and 3 Women at Dolphin Theatre; and The Girl on the Train at Howick Little Theatre. When he’s not on stage, Romain works as a Sustainability Manager, and can also be found doing yoga, nerding out over films and video games, making art and eating tacos. He’s excited to be part of this compelling thriller and enjoying his time filling the big boots (and hat) of thoughtful lawman, Sheriff Buster.