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Andi Daniel and Jay Pyette rehearse a scene from the Montana Actors' Theatre production of "Misery."
Andie Daniel and Jay Pyette rehearse a scene from the Montana Actors' Theatre production of "Misery."
Andie Daniel and Bill Dolph rehearse a scene from the Montana Actors' Theatre production of "Misery."
Andie Daniel and Jay Pyette rehearse a scene from the Montana Actors' Theatre production of "Misery."
Andie Daniel and Jay Pyette rehearse a scene from the Montana Actors' Theatre production of "Misery."
After multiple delays due to COVID-19, Montana Actors' Theatre will be premiering "Misery," a stage adaptation of Sephen King's novel, Thursday at 8 p.m.
"Misery" will also run Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and has a matinée Sunday at 2 and performances at 8 p.m. Feb. 23-25.
The play was originally going to start in January, but after many of the people involved in the production of the play came down with COVID-19 they decided to delay the premier.
The play's director, Anjanett Hawk, said the actor and crew commitment to the play has been outstanding and she's thrilled to finally be back on track after a difficult few weeks of delays and rescheduling.
"It was frustrating, but the show must go on," Hawk said.
"Misery," based on the novel of the same name and its 1990 film adaptation, tells the story of novelist Paul Sheldon, played by Jay Pyette, who is rescued from a serious car accident by former nurse Annie Wilkes, played by Andi Daniel, who claims to be his biggest fan, and takes him to her home to recover.
As time goes on Sheldon sees Wilkes' enthusiasm for his work become obsession as she becomes more controlling and less stable.
Hawk said the realism of the character and the fact that her dangerous obsession isn't apparent at first is a frightening aspect of her character.
"Annie could be a next-door neighbor and you wouldn't even know it," she said. "People like her are out there."
Bill Dolph plays Buster in the MAT production.
Hawk said the story's plot is fairly simple, but the behind the scenes of the play is actually quite complicated.
Because the play takes place entirely in one home the sets needs to be more detailed.
Hawk said the sets for all four sections of Annie's house are on a large turntable that takes up the whole stage and will be operated by three football players from Montana State University-Northern.
She said this set up means the play has a lot of moving parts, literally, and the people who work behind the scenes, some of whom also got COVID last month, are vital to the play.
"Without those people we wouldn't have a shot, they're just as important as the actors," she said.
Hawk said she's directed and acted before, but this play has been a great experience and despite the delay's she's happy to see everyone's work come to fruition.
"I've been very fortunate ... ," she said. "It's been really fun working with everyone at MAT."
She said the cast had a great final dress rehearsal Tuesday evening and she can't wait for everyone to see the play.
"It really is a great show," she said.
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