Stephen King’s ‘Misery’ gets stage adaptation in Pennsylvania

Prepare the sledgehammer and the Dom Perignon. A new stage adaptation of Stephen King’s “Misery” will have its world premiere this fall.

The play is scheduled to debut in late November at the Bucks County Playhouse in Pennsylvania. It was written by William Goldman, who penned the screenplay for the 1990 film version that was directed by Rob Reiner and starred Kathy Bates and James Caan.

The way-out-of-town venue suggests that this production is a developmental run. The play is scheduled for just 11 performances, from Nov. 24 to Dec. 8. Among the companies involved with the play are Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures and Castle Rock Entertainment, the latter of which produced the movie.

Will Frears — son of filmmaker Stephen Frears — will direct the stage production. Casting has not been announced. The playhouse says on its website that the play is adapted from King’s novel, not the movie.

“Misery” tells the story of bestselling author Paul Sheldon, who is injured in a car accident and is held hostage by Annie Wilkes, the crazed fan who rescues him. Bates won a lead-actress Oscar for her performance as Wilkes, a deranged recluse who refuses to swear but has no problem bashing in her patient’s ankles.

Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures recently helped to produce a stage version of the movie “Elf,” which debuted on Broadway in 2010 and is set to return later this year in time for the holiday season.

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