Misery Reviews

Talkin Broadway - Highly Recommended

"...Anyone who has read Stephen King's book or watched the movie Misery will enjoy seeing this adaptation by William Goldman played out on stage at Citadel Theatre in Lake Forest. Under the tactful direction of Scott Westerman, the slow drip of anticipatory fear is beautifully and carefully acted. The staging choices and a smaller set were cleverly designed by Bob Knuth to allow for an intimate feel while letting the horror not be predictable whatsoever."

Stage and Cinema - Highly Recommended

"...Citadel Theatre’s production of Misery by William Goldman, based on the novel by Stephen King, is a respectable staging that scratches the itch for a spooky night out this fall, even if it doesn’t fully deliver the chest-tingling suspense of King’s original."

Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...It is hard to believe that it was over 30 years ago that the film “Misery” based on the Stephen King novel was made into a film. This was a tense thriller about a famous author and one of his true fans ( or as my mother called her “fanatic”). The film starred James Caan as Paul Sheridan, the author and Kathy Bates as Annie, and was directed by Rob Reiner ( for those who remember, “Meathead” Stivic on “All In The Family”. The story involves lots of fighting and harm, so doing this as a play, live is not easy. Having an actual husband and wife perform these difficult scenes probably has to be a true strain on the marriage, or perhaps, the other way around."

Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended

"...This is one more feather in the cap of Director Scott Westerman, following his brilliant and excellent production of A JUKEBOX FOR THE ALGONQUIN. As the suspense builds in MISERY, and the unrelenting horror increases, theatergoers will find themselves chewing their fingernails and perched on the edge of their seats. Everyone will empathize with the severely-injured author will wonder if and how he’ll ever survive and escape the maniacal Annie Wilkes. Paul Sheldon’s “Number One Fan” also turns out to be his number one enemy. The audience will also leave this production with a renewed admiration for the Citadel Theatre’s continued excellence. Scott and Ellen Phelps seem to constantly produce some of the finest theatre on the North Shore. Like Annie Wilkes, it’s almost as if the Citadel’s saying to theatergoers, “You’ve no idea what I’m capable of!”"

Chicago Theater and Arts - Highly Recommended

"...Well interpreted as the dangerous obsession of Annie Wilkes, his "number one fan" perfectly played by Ellen Phelps, the action takes place in Annie's rural home near where Sheldon has crashed his car."

Spotlight On Lake - Highly Recommended

"...The 1990 film version of Stephen King’s “Misery” was considered one of the better films of the year and won Kathy Bates an Oscar for best actress. So…this was a tough act to follow for Citadel Theatre’s live stage version of it. But follow it they did! The live adaptation was incredibly well done. Scott Phelps as Paul Sheldon and Ellen Phelps as Annie Wilkes were right on the heels of James Caan and Kathy Bates from the famous film."