From left, Alan Ball as Paul Sheldon and Michele Burdette Elmore as Annie Wilkes in the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre production of Stephen King's "Misery." The play runs through Sunday, Aug. 26. (Contributed photo) [Click to enlarge]

I confess up front that I am not a fan of the horror genre, whether in books, movies or theater, and I've never been attracted to the work of Stephen King.

But I was surprised and enthralled by King's "Misery" as performed on the Lyceum stage Saturday, Aug. 18. I was caught up, in spite of myself, with the chilling predicament of writer Paul Sheldon, played by Lyceum newcomer Alan Ball and his strange relationship with the alternately kind and crazy Annie Wilkes, played by Michele Burdette Elmore.

The two actors, who have the stage to themselves for the entire show, provide stellar performances, exploring the terrors of isolation and vulnerability that both experience as Annie's horrifying past provokes her to introduce horror into Paul's present.

Ball is especially riveting as he juggles the emotions -- anger at being held captive, a growing fear of the strange woman who has him at her mercy -- with the troubled mental states brought on alternately by severe pain and drug-induced euphoria.

Contact Eric Crump at

marshalleditor@socket.net