MIsery on Russian stage. Hell on Earth.

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Denis Bushlatov

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Apr 20, 2016
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Misery is one of SK’s strongest works. Every word seems to be exactly where it should be. Every episode is like another brick in the solid wall. Almost a psychological masterpiece.

It is hard enough to put such a story on screen. Even though Kathy Bates with her titanic charisma made one heck of Annie Wilkes, the movie still lacked some of the book spirit and appeared to be flat like yesterday’s champagne.

I have never seen a Broadway adaptation BUT… A couple of months ago I have learnt that one of the Moscow theatres came up with a play. I bought the tickets of course and… Well, I have only one question… Does the author himself know anything abt this play? Did the directors ask for his permission or did they share the scenario with him? Because I truly believe that if he ever had a chance to watch it he would have gone Anniewilkish on the director and the cast.

To say it was horrible would be a mistake. It was pure evil.

The play looks cheap. There are only two actors involved and both are well known on the Russian stage. The special effects are absent (when Paul burns his novel he doesn’t even light a match but PRETENDS he does and then the viewers have to IMAGINE fire). When Annie chops of poor guy’s leg, she stands beside him swinging some rubber thing which looks more like an overgrown d**do than an axe and of course they did not even bother to come up with some prostatics-she swung that d**do, Paul screamed and then pointed at his leg as if it were chopped ofJ

Closer to the middle of the play, the guy playing Paul started to DANCE (was supposed to be some metaphor I believe but can you imagine such a metaphor in MISERY???)


I will not spoil all the fun to those who decide to look it up in the net-trust there should be something. Just a couple of things… How about a… now, you better be ready for that,.. SEX episode between Annie and Paul (!!!) She rapes him right in front of all those bewildered SK fans.

Closer to the middle of the play, the guy playing Paul started to DANCE (was supposed to be some metaphor I believe but can you imagine such a metaphor in MISERY???)

Once again, I would appreciate it if smb informs SK abt this matter. It casts a great shadow on the book.

Below is a great illustration of chaos on stage.

search
 
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Moderator

Ms. Mod
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Jul 10, 2006
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Misery is one of SK’s strongest works. Every word seems to be exactly where it should be. Every episode is like another brick in the solid wall. Almost a psychological masterpiece.

It is hard enough to put such a story on screen. Even though Kathy Bates with her titanic charisma made one heck of Annie Wilkes, the movie still lacked some of the book spirit and appeared to be flat like yesterday’s champagne.

I have never seen a Broadway adaptation BUT… A couple of months ago I have learnt that one of the Moscow theatres came up with a play. I bought the tickets of course and… Well, I have only one question… Does the author himself know anything abt this play? Did the directors ask for his permission or did they share the scenario with him? Because I truly believe that if he ever had a chance to watch it he would have gone Anniewilkish on the director and the cast.

To say it was horrible would be a mistake. It was pure evil.

The play looks cheap. There are only two actors involved and both are well known on the Russian stage. The special effects are absent (when Paul burns his novel he doesn’t even light a match but PRETENDS he does and then the viewers have to IMAGINE fire). When Annie chops of poor guy’s leg, she stands beside him swinging some rubber thing which looks more like an overgrown d**do than an axe and of course they did not even bother to come up with some prostatics-she swung that d**do, Paul screamed and then pointed at his leg as if it were chopped ofJ

Closer to the middle of the play, the guy playing Paul started to DANCE (was supposed to be some metaphor I believe but can you imagine such a metaphor in MISERY???)


I will not spoil all the fun to those who decide to look it up in the net-trust there should be something. Just a couple of things… How about a… now, you better be ready for that,.. SEX episode between Annie and Paul (!!!) She rapes him right in front of all those bewildered SK fans.

Closer to the middle of the play, the guy playing Paul started to DANCE (was supposed to be some metaphor I believe but can you imagine such a metaphor in MISERY???)

Once again, I would appreciate it if smb informs SK abt this matter. It casts a great shadow on the book.

Below is a great illustration of chaos on stage.

search
Thanks for letting us know. Doesn't sound like the script that had been approved when Misery was adapted for the stage.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
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Given the OP's other posts, I'd like to see if this is true.
No offence. But, hey.


Is there a Playbook?
...I see where there have been numerous other venues for staged versions, but nothing in Russia that I could find....sounds like a satirical and non-approved adaptation....
 
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Denis Bushlatov

Active Member
Apr 20, 2016
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WW
yes.

sully, me thinks

Nevertheless, here you go. Ms. Mod, I would very much appreciate it if you could deliver the below data to SK himself. U may refernce me on that one.
The name of the director is Nina Orlovskaya. The actors involved are Victor Loginov and Eugenia Dobrovolskaya. There are numerous articles abt the play itself in the net. Few are below.

Мизери - Спектакли - Афиша


Have a good day and remember-reading means thinking. In any other case, the processs makes no sense.
 
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Moderator

Ms. Mod
Administrator
Jul 10, 2006
52,243
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Maine
Nevertheless, here you go. Ms. Mod, I would very much appreciate it if you could deliver the below data to SK himself. U may refernce me on that one.
The name of the director is Nina Orlovskaya. The actors involved are Victor Loginov and Eugenia Dobrovolskaya. There are numerous articles abt the play itself in the net. Few are below.

Мизери - Спектакли - Афиша


Have a good day and remember-reading means thinking. In any other case, the processs makes no sense.
Stephen doesn't own the stage rights, so there's really not anything he can do about it if they're doing it without permission. I believe Warner Brothers is the current rights holder if you'd like to take the time to get in touch with them.
 
Dec 17, 2015
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I saw that New York Broadway showcased a stage theater production of Misery with Bruce Willis playing Paul. From the screen shots I saw, it looks like they kept a lot of the gruesome points from the book. It looked like it might have been good to me. I am hoping it varies dramatically from the poor version you were subjected to in Russia!!
 
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