In 1992, Simon Moore directed and wrote a play based on the novel of the same name, which premiered in London's West End Theatre on December 17, 1992, running for six months, before it was revived in 2005.[5] The 1992 production starred Sharon Gless as Annie Wilkes and Bill Paterson as Paul Sheldon,[1] while the 2005 production starred Lisa Morgan as Wilkes and Stephen G. Anthony as Sheldon.[5]
A new version of the production officially opened at the Broadhurst Theatre on October 22, 2015 and closed on February 16, 2016.[11] This version starred Bruce Willis as Sheldon, Laurie Metcalf as Wilkes, and Leon Addison Brown as Buster.[12] The show ran for 102 performances, grossing $12,518,415 in ticket sales.[13][14][15]
Kwadrat Theatre (2017)
The play was re-adapted in the Polish language, starring Ewa Wencel as Wilkes, Piotr Polk as Sheldon, and Marcin Pietowski as Buster, and premiered at the Kwadrat Theatre in Warsaw on January 9, 2017.[4]
Kuopio City Theatre (2019)
Misery was adapted under the name Piina for three Finnish productions.[16][17][18] The first adaptation was performed in September 2019 by Kuopio City Theatre in Kuopio.[19][20] It starred Seppo Pääkkönen as Sheldon, Henna Haverinen as Wilkes, and Ari-Kyösti Seppo as Buster, and was directed by Olli-Matti Oinonen.[17]
A third adaptation was performed in November 2022 by Pori Theatre in Pori.[23] It starred Vesa Haltsonen as Sheldon, Mirva Tolppanen as Wilkes, and Hannu Müller as Buster, and was directed by Tuomo Aitta [fi].[18]
Seinäjoki City Theatre (2025)
An upcoming fourth adaptation will be performed in February 2025 by Seinäjoki City Theatre in Seinäjoki, and it will be directed by Olli-Matti Oinonen (who previously directed the play at the Kuopio Theatre) and starring Satu Silvo as Annie Wilkes and Reidar Palmgren as Paul Sheldon.[24][25]
Reception
For Metcalf's performance as Wilkes, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play,[26] at the 70th Tony Awards in 2016.[27] Willis's performance as Sheldon was generally panned by critics, who called it "vacant" and "inert".[28][29][30] One critic faulted Willis for using an ear piece on the play.[31]