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The thrilling tale of Misery comes to the Chilliwack Cultural Centre

Based on the novel by Stephen King, Misery will have audiences on the edge of their seats
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Fright fans, unite: one of the King of Horror’s classic novels is coming to the Chilliwack Cultural Centre stage as the Arts Club Theatre Company’s, Canada’s largest not-for-profit urban theatre company, presents Misery.

Photo by David Cooper

In 1987, Stephen King terrified fans with the release of Misery, the chilling tale of an author’s encounter with an overly-enthusiastic fan. The book—a metaphor for King’s own feelings about being chained to horror fiction—follows Paul Sheldon, the writer of a popular romance series who’s rescued and then held hostage by his self-proclaimed number one fan, Annie Wilkes.

The novel, a big hit when published, was then adapted into a screenplay by William Goldman and released three years later as a film starring Kathy Bates and James Caan. Then in 2015, Bruce Willis and Laurie Metcalf starred in a Broadway version, also written by Goldman; it’s that version that’s making its debut in Chilliwack on Sunday, Feb. 4.

READ MORE: Arts Club Theatre brings Sherlock Holmes to Chilliwack

Starring Andrew McNee and Lucia Frangione, the production is directed by Rachel Ditor—also’s the Club’s Literary Manager—who says Misery has always tantalized her.

“There was something delicious to my friends and I about being too scared to turn the page and too thrilled to put the book down,” says Ditor. So being able to bring the story to a larger audience as a live performance is “the best (because) … the play version of the story gives us the good sport of compelling live performances.

The live performance ofMisery provides that same good sport of knowing something icky is going to happen and looking forward to it anyway,” continues Ditor. “Andrew McNee is a (such a) magnetic performer—you can’t take your eyes off him, and Lucia Frangione is one of the most fearless artists I know, willing to risk everything to tell a great story.”

“Misery is a show we’ve all been looking forweard to for some time,” adds Mill Millerd, the Art Club’s Artistic Managing Director.

“Staging a thriller by the master of the genre, Stephen King, is a rare opportunity and we’re excited to bring something quite different. Hold your neighbour’s hand if you need to, as we aim to have you jumping out of your seats!”

Misery is at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre on Feb. 6, at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $45 for adults, $42 for senior, $40 for youth, and $29 for value seats, and can be purchased at the Centre Box Office, online at chilliwackculturalcentre.ca, or by calling 604-391-SHOW(7469).


@SarahGawdin
Sarah.Gawdin@theprogress.com

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