MISERY IS ALIVE, MISERY IS ALIVE! OH, This whole house is going to be full of romance, OOOH, I AM GOING TO PUT ON MY LIBERACE RECORDS!

The Gilbert Theater is back with its third show of the season, Misery. Shows run from Jan. 31 to Feb. 16, every Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. In celebration of Valentine's Day, early birds are able to grab a special “Misery Loves Company” Valentine's Day package. General admission tickets are still available and can be purchased online at https://ci.ovationtix.com/36002/production/1206175 or the box office.
Originally a book by Stephen King, Misery features a robust deep dive into the main character, Annie. It was truly made famous, infamous, and cemented as a cult classic when its film adaptation was released in 1990. It was directed by Rob Reiner, with King and William Goldman at the helm as writers.
Misery is a tale of obsession, fandom and love. When Annie discovers her favorite author, Paul, clinging for life after a car accident, she decides to take him back to her home to care for him in the deepest and best way she knows possible.
This is a psychological thriller that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. The cast has been working hard to bring Goldman’s play adaptation of the film to life on the stage. Familiar Gilbert veterans Deannah Robinson, Claudia Warga-Dean, James Merkle and Kim Butsch will be featured. Directing the ensemble is Robyne Parrish.
Parrish is a seasoned stage thespian and current New York Resident.
“I've been doing theater for forty years, since I was five years old. I'm the former artistic director at the Gilbert from 2012 to 2017. I was here for five years, then I went back to New York, and I've come back almost every year since I've been gone to direct a show. This year it's Misery,” Parrish said.
As a fan of not only the book but also the film featuring the highly talented Kathy Bates and James Caan, Parrish cites the stage adaptation's similarities to the film.
“I would say it's got the bones of the novel, but it's structurally like the film,” she said.
Playing Annie is Deannah Robinson, a long-time Gilbert volunteer, supporter, and stage regular.
“I come here and I either volunteer or I'm performing or I'm helping out backstage. I've been performing, I would say going on 14 years. My first show was A Streetcar Named Desire and I've just been a Gilbert staple ever since then,” she said.
Robinson is a transcriptionist by day and will transform into the manic and passionate Annie. The character is a far cry from her personality, something she looks forward to at this stage in her career, saying, “I think she's very complex. There's a lot to her. And even with what I know about the movie, there's still some stuff I would like to know. You know, I want to dig a little deeper into what her life was like as a kid and, you know, beyond her past as a nurse. I've gotten to that point in acting where I would definitely like to delve into the lives of the characters that I play. It makes it a little easier to really get into the groove of performing,” Robinson said.
Robinson has leaned into this role and truly embraced the energy of Annie.
“[I like] the parts where she's kind of abusive to Paul. I also like the parts where she's very lovey, even though it's very unrequited,” Robinson said.
Robinson leans into the “what if” of the story.
“What if you had the opportunity to have your favorite most beloved celebrity in your home recovering from either a car accident or breaking bones, what would you do? Especially if you're able to take care of them, but at the same time, you're like, ‘oh my God, oh my God, what do I do? I want to show all of my love to them but I don't want to be too overbearing, but at the same time, oh my God, they're in my house and this is crazy.’”
Playing the captive creative Paul is James Merkle, another seasoned thespian and voice-over actor.
“I have been doing theater for probably 35 years. [I] grew up in Germany and was a military brat so [I] came here. I've done theater over there, here, up in Raleigh, and, of course, some films here and there and some voiceover work as well. The first show that I did here was with Lynn in Christmas Carol. One of his Christmas Carol productions,” Merkle said.
Paul has provided Merkle with an opportunity to spread his acting wings and range.
“This character in particular has a lot of things that people can relate to in terms of there's so much going on. I think he's also a very challenging character to portray. I was also drawn to the physicality that is required of this role. Because a lot of my other roles that I have done have not been as physical as this show has been and that's something that I was up for. I wanted that kind of challenge,” Merkle said.
Claudia Warga-Dean is stepping into the role of Sheriff Buster, elevating the role with her background in theater and time on stage and backstage.
“I taught theater arts for nine years. I'm currently a human resources manager and hopefully soon maybe a college administrator of some sort. I've been at the Gilbert since I was 17. My first production was actually in Lynn's backyard and it was the Merchant of Venice. And I've been here ever since and I’m happy to step back in,” Dean said.
She wasn’t deterred from auditioning for the character and has taken the role head-on.
“[Something that] rings true is that there are a lot of tactics that you can play, a lot of ways you can take the characters, a lot of different choices to make, a lot of subtexts. Maybe I know something, but I don't want to give it away. How do I play that? How do I evolve that? Finding my own arc within this? That really draws me. I love stuff like that. It's been fun to have an atmosphere where you're allowed to play and try off-the-wall things,” she said.
Although the role of Sheriff Buster was originally written for a man, Dean’s unique take and grasp of the character made her the perfect choice.
“I think it's important to mention that this is a male-identifying character. But we just thought Claudia was the best choice for what we were looking for. It was not ever in our minds like, that we wanted a female,” Parrish said of Dean’s take on the role.
Rounding out the cast as the announcer and Buster/Annie's understudy is the equally talented Kim Bustch.
“I've been involved in theater for about 44 years. [My] first show was in sixth grade and then I studied theater in college. I did not complete my degree. I got married, had children, and then got involved in church productions, little things like that. And then once they were old enough to self-sustain, I got involved in the Gilbert. Secret Garden was my first show here. And then I’ve been involved in summer plays, summer festivals, a few other shows. COVID hit and I just didn't have time for a while. And now I'm back. I'm excited to be back,” Bustch said.
As the understudy for two roles, her work is double, something that made her nervous but has also allowed her to play with her acting range and stretch her imagination with the characters.
“Just to be able to [play both of these characters] because each of them is such a faceted character. It's [great] to see them put their spin on it. It’s cool and then I'm thinking as the understudy, do I go up and mimic? As long as the character comes across [authentic]. She (Annie) could be serious [and he] has her laughing but then she's like cut and dry. I just think that's fascinating.”
The cast and crew have taken great care to make this small production powerful, the perfect date night for lovers of psychological thrillers and community theater. For more info, call 910-678-7186.

(Top photo: James Merkle plays the roll of Paul, an author who is held captive by Annie. Bottom photo: Deannah Robinson plays Annie, a character obsessed with Paul, and who goes to great lengths to attempt to nurse him back to health. Photos courtesy of Gilbert Theater)