Close Menu

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    ‘Survivor 49’s Annie Davis Pushes Back on Jeremiah’s Coconut Claims: ‘Not Even a Little Bit’ True

    October 3, 2025

    Peacemaker Season 2 Wrapped Up Its Earth-X Storyline With A Shocking Death, And Now I’m Pretty Sure Who Season 3’s Villain Will Be

    October 3, 2025

    Law and Order – Hindsight – Review: Selective Grace

    October 3, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    8881199.XYZ
    • Home
    • Holly
    • Bolly
    • TV Shows
    • Music
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    8881199.XYZ
    Home»Hollywood»‘Distress’ assessment: The Dio brings Stephen King thriller to the stage in chilling manufacturing
    Hollywood

    ‘Distress’ assessment: The Dio brings Stephen King thriller to the stage in chilling manufacturing

    David GroveBy David GroveSeptember 29, 20254 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
    ‘Distress’ assessment: The Dio brings Stephen King thriller to the stage in chilling manufacturing
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email


    ree

    Courtesy of Michelle Anliker pictures

    Stephen King’s notorious 1987 novel was at all times greater than only a horror story: it was a brutal character research of two individuals locked in a battle of wills. On one facet, Paul Sheldon, a reclusive creator wrestling with ache, drugs, and an unmissable deadline. On the opposite, Annie Wilkes, the lonely, unhinged nurse who would grow to be the poster little one for poisonous fandom. Rob Reiner’s terrifying 1990 movie adaptation, starring James Caan and Kathy Bates in her Oscar-winning flip, captured the novel’s claustrophobia and psychological stress with unnerving precision. So it’s no surprise William Goldman tailored his personal screenplay for the stage, stripping it down right into a two-hander that thrives on intimacy and menace. Minimal units, relentless stress, and a narrative already seared into popular culture make “Distress” a super candidate for theatrical revival.

    At The Dio, director Steve DeBruyne and designer Matthew Tomich embrace the play’s small scale and wring each ounce of environment out of it. Their staging is stark however efficient: a wide-open ground plan drenched in shadows, sharp lighting cues, and sudden blackouts that jolt the viewers into Sheldon’s nightmare. The story stays the identical: after a devastating automobile accident in a blizzard, bestselling novelist Paul Sheldon (Dan Morrison) awakens within the care, and captivity, of Annie Wilkes (Sarah Stevens). Annie isn’t simply his nurse. She’s his “primary fan,” a girl who religiously buys his “Distress” novels on the native basic retailer, hangs on his each phrase, and now, with Paul damaged and bedridden, lastly has him all to herself.

    Annie Wilkes is a novel monster in contrast to some other within the horror canon: terrifying not as a result of she’s supernatural, however as a result of she’s terrifyingly actual. She is lonely, needy, and starved for consideration, her obsession with Paul’s books are a lifeline to a world the place she feels valued. However beneath her healthful small-town exterior lurks a sadistic streak, able to turning from chipper to chilling in a breath. It’s a task that comes with baggage — Kathy Bates made it iconic — but Stevens by no means wilts underneath the load. She doesn’t mimic Bates however builds her personal Annie: heat and disarming one second, chilly and cruel the following. The precision in her escalation, from nurturing caregiver to knife’s-edge psychopath, makes her efficiency riveting. When Stevens goes full throttle, it’s not cartoonish, however managed, deliberate terror, the type that makes you maintain your breath.

    Morrison, confined to the mattress for a lot of the present, is equally spectacular. Paul’s survival hinges on wit, endurance, and sheer resilience, and Morrison finds the steadiness between desperation and defiance. His pained howls through the notorious sledgehammer scene are cringe inducing, however his quieter moments — tapping into Paul’s cussed dedication to outwit Annie — are simply as compelling. Their push-and-pull dynamic retains the stress excessive. Jordan Hayes-Devloo rounds issues out properly as Buster, the well-meaning sheriff whose temporary appearances present sparkles of aid earlier than the dread units again in.

    Goldman’s script, operating 2 hours and three minutes with no intermission, can sometimes really feel padded, and a few sequences pressure underneath repetition. Sure subplots from the novel and movie — notably Paul’s meticulous escape planning — don’t translate as strongly on stage, leaving gaps that assume the viewers is aware of the story already. And whereas the underscore nods to the movie, its heavy use typically reminds you of how successfully Reiner’s film wielded music to construct suspense. Nonetheless, The Dio levels the large moments with aptitude, together with the infamous sledgehammer payoff, staged with sufficient grit and shock worth to make audiences squirm.

    However as with most Dio productions, the actual energy lies within the intimacy. Stevens and Morrison shoulder the majority of the

    work, and each rise to the event. Their chemistry is tense, electrical, and unsettling, which is strictly what this chamber piece calls for. Costume design by Norma Polk and struggle/intimacy route from Jen Pan and Joe Wright add polish and authenticity, whereas Tomich’s technical designs hold the viewers immersed in Paul’s purgatory. And in true Dio style, the dinner beforehand, full with Annie’s “notorious” meatloaf and a decadent crimson velvet brownie dessert, makes the night really feel immersive in a playful, barely depraved means.

    In the end, “Distress” at The Dio isn’t about soar scares or gore. It’s about psychological warfare, about how obsession can curdle into cruelty, and about two actors locked in a battle that leaves the viewers equally enthralled and unnerved. Stevens, specifically, delivers a efficiency that doesn’t simply echo Annie Wilkes. It reclaims her.

    The Dio’s manufacturing of MISERY continues by way of October twenty sixth. All reservations embody dinner and a non-alcoholic beverage. To make reservations, please go to right here.



    Supply hyperlink

    See also  'Harry Potter' Star's Cheap Evaluation of Her J.Ok. Rowling Relationship Will get Mocked by the Creator
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email

    Related Posts

    Peacemaker Season 2 Wrapped Up Its Earth-X Storyline With A Shocking Death, And Now I’m Pretty Sure Who Season 3’s Villain Will Be

    Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test Just Proved It’s The Real Deal With A Scary And Upsetting Moment For One Celebrity

    All 4 'The Strangers' Movies Ranked From Worst to Best

    All 4 'The Strangers' Movies Ranked From Worst to Best

    Don't Miss
    TV Shows September 15, 2025

    Stephen Colbert Wins Emmy Amid Cancellation, Tells Viewers to ‘Keep Sturdy’

    Stephen Colbert is ending his run on The Late Present on a excessive observe. On…

    The Each day SpoilerTV Neighborhood Open Dialogue Thread – 4th February 2025

    February 4, 2025

    Elon Musk’s Ex Claims He Has A ‘Fixer’ Who Paid Her Hundreds of thousands To Hold Their Child Secret

    April 16, 2025

    Fox Information Contributor Kat Timpf Pushes Again on Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension

    September 19, 2025

    Some Followers Are Bummed After The ACOTAR Sequence Bought Scrapped At Hulu, However I am Not Unhappy About It (For A Few Causes)

    March 2, 2025

    Field Workplace: Revisiting Ishq Vishk as Shahid Kapoor completes 22 years of his debut

    May 9, 2025

    How To Watch The Oscars 2025 On-line And Stream 97th Academy Awards For Free And From Wherever

    March 2, 2025

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from SmartMag about art & design.

    8881199.XYZ is your source for the latest Hollywood news, movie reviews, TV show updates, celebrity gossip, and music industry insights. Get daily updates on trending movies, popular series, and exclusive stories straight from the entertainment world. Whether you’re a film fan, TV show follower, or music lover, we deliver fresh, engaging content to keep you in the loop on all things Hollywood. Supported by third-party ads, 8881199.XYZ offers free, high-quality entertainment news without intrusive experiences. Explore Hollywood’s best with us for your daily dose of celebrity and industry buzz!

    Our Picks

    James Gunn And David Corenswet Open Up About The Intense Debate They Had Over One Of Superman’s Largest Scenes: ‘There’s A Purpose Why He’s Asking These Questions’

    August 16, 2025

    ‘Loki’ Fan-Favourite Set to Lead Barking Mad New Slasher Film

    February 6, 2025

    Jay Leno Debunks Viral Rumor That the Mob Is Chasing Him Over Playing Money owed

    December 30, 2024
    Exclusive

    Swiss Multi-Instrumentalist James Iwa Shares New Album Unsent Letter | Stereofox Music Weblog

    July 31, 2025

    Movies and TV Shows Coming to Netflix in October 2025

    October 1, 2025

    King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard Transfer to Bandcamp with Title-Your-Worth Mannequin After Fleeing Spotify

    September 9, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
    • Home
    • DMCA Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
    © 2025 8881199.XYZ / Designed by MAXBIT.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.