ALAMOSA — “Misery”, the stage adaptation of Stephen King’s classic novel, opened on Adams State University’s San Luis Valley Federal Bank Main Stage last Friday night and, at the end, received a standing ovation from the audience. Those who attended Saturday night’s production responded the same way.

The response is well-deserved.

Under the direction of John Taylor, Ph.D., director of the School of Visual and Performing Arts and chair of the Theatre Department, and the performances given by the extremely talented cast, “Misery” is excellent and sets, yet again, a new standard for the Adams State University Theatre Department.

For those unfamiliar with King’s story, “Misery” follows successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon, who is rescued from a car crash and wakes up captive in the secluded home of Annie Wilkes, his “number one fan”. He quickly realizes Annie has no intention of letting him go, making it the perfect set-up for a play that explores the terrifying consequences of obsession, isolation and control.

There are only three people in the cast, which puts a tremendous burden on the actors to carry the play, especially Alex Howard, who plays Paul Sheldon, and Kris Fleecs, who plays Annie Wilkes. But from the time the stage lights come up, it’s clearly evident that the actors are more than capable.

Howard, who is debilitated and in bed for much of the first half of the play, doesn’t have many tools at his disposal. He can’t walk about the stage or have much physical interaction with Fleecs. Yet, primarily using just his facial expressions and his voice, he commands the audience’s attention, becoming totally convincing as a man who goes from grateful and utterly dependent to questioning the situation to realizing he is trapped by an unpredictable woman who was obsessed with him long before she recovered him from a crash.

When Fleecs as Annie really loses it for the first time, we feel Howard’s shock and his dawning realization of just how trapped he is. And when we see him beginning to plot a way to get free and the consequences that follow when Annie finds out, we feel his desperation, fear and helplessness. It’s definitely a cringe-worthy moment.

Not enough can be said about the performance of Kris Fleecs as Annie Wilkes. From the moment she walks on stage, she grabs ahold of the audience and doesn’t let go until the end.

At first, Fleecs plays a sympathetic character almost tragic in her worship of Sheldon. She’s funny, endearing, self-deprecating, eager to please and grateful for even the smallest of responses.

But, gradually, Fleecs gives the audience the subtlest of cues in her performance that something isn’t exactly right beneath the surface. The way she looks at Howard or the way she pauses before asking a question – all slight cues that lay the perfect groundwork for what happens when she shows a full outburst of rage, filling the theater with her powerful voice and presence on stage.

In no more than a few sentences, Fleecs changes the entire tone of the play in a way the audience finds both surprising and expected.

That tone briefly changes again when Chaz Childress as Buster, the local deputy, knocks on the door. Childress plays the slow talking deputy to a T, providing relief from the tension inside the house while suggesting – just a bit - that maybe he doesn’t quite believe everything he’s hearing.

Meanwhile, Fleecs has transformed into just an average, knee sock and sweater-wearingwoman who gives no indication of what’s going on in the house.

When Childress leaves, it’s like any hope for Sheldon leaves, as well, giving the audience a clear sense of foreboding that bad things are on the horizon. The only question is…for who?

The actors onstage are supported by some equally top-notch work from the crew, including Chaz Childress who did the lighting design, effectively changing the atmosphere from a warm haven in the winter to something colder, like a prison cell.

Jay Lobeck did sound design, which was key, not only in the music Taylor chose to set the mood but also the dreaded sound of Annie’s truck returning to the house.

Assistant Professor Tim Gross designed a perfect set. The bedroom looks like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting but, again, with just a touch of…something else. There were two focal points – the bed where Sheldon was recuperating and the door, which was always closed and soon to be locked, and, before long, played a big role in the story.

The set complemented the story beautifully and was both open but, before long, claustrophobic and suggestive of a farmhouse that was isolated from the rest of the world.

Professor Jenna Nielsen did an excellent job with costume design, especially when the audience gets the first glimpse of Sheldon’s mangled legs. And when Annie attends a “special” dinner with Sheldon dressed in an outdated and matronly dress, the costume makes its own statement.

In the program notes, John Taylor describes “Misery” as “equal parts psychological horror and thriller”, going on to say, “Though his work isn’t my typical directorial choice, I was drawn to the challenge of bringing King’s unique brand of storytelling to the stage.”

“Misery” is a full length play with a 10-minute intermission but, looking at the audience’s response and rapt attention, it didn’t seem that anyone was anxious for it to end. Quite the contrary.

So, let it be said that Taylor met that challenge and then some as “Misery” is a truly entertaining experience worthy of all the ovations and attention it gets...and more.

Public performances of “Misery,” begin at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 3 and 4 with a matinee that begins at 2 p.m. Oct. 5 on the San Luis Valley Federal Bank Main Stage, located in the Theatre Building.

The production contains adult language and acts of violence.

Tickets are on sale online - $13 for general public and free to Associated Students and faculty with current Adams State identification. The in-person box ofice is open from 2:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Tickets may also be purchased at theatre.adams.edu or reserved by calling  719-587-8499.