Fame has its definite drawbacks, and itsa国际传媒檚 a lesson Paul Sheldon learned the hard way.

His legs are broken, bones protruding at jaunty angles as a result of a wintry car crash somewhere in rural Colorado. But mangled bones are the least of his worries as his captor and number-one fan, Annie Wilkes, turns tormentor.

Thatsa国际传媒檚 the premise of Stephen Kingsa国际传媒檚 chilling psychological thriller Misery, which Arts Club Theatre Company brings to the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre stage Jan. 30.

sa国际传媒淚 had sort of known about it from quotes from the movie: sa国际传媒榗ockadoodiesa国际传媒� and sa国际传媒楳r. Man,sa国际传媒� but I hadnsa国际传媒檛 seen it because Isa国际传媒檓 not a horror fan,sa国际传媒� said Lucia Frangione, who dons Wilkessa国际传媒� homely garb in the two-hour production.

Despite her aversion to the genre, itsa国际传媒檚 a role Frangione has put to purpose after recently reading Misery, which King wrote after battling and eventually overcoming a cocaine addiction.

sa国际传媒淎nnie Wilkes embodies his addiction. Cocaine was his number-one fan,sa国际传媒� Frangione said. sa国际传媒淲hen I read it, I thought it cansa国际传媒檛 be horror; itsa国际传媒檚 a psychological thriller.sa国际传媒�

While King may have been actually writing about the harrowing struggle of living with an addiction, Misery at its roots is a story meant to entertain and terrify, Frangione said.

And itsa国际传媒檚 a story that rose to Hollywood fame with the 1990 film adaptation that won Kathy Bates four awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama, for her portrayal of Wilkes.

sa国际传媒淚 didnsa国际传媒檛 watch it because I didnsa国际传媒檛 want to compare myself to Kathy Bates,sa国际传媒� Frangione said of the film. sa国际传媒淲hen you play something iconic like this, itsa国际传媒檚 big shoes to fill.sa国际传媒�

Though, itsa国际传媒檚 a story and set that comes alive on stage.

sa国际传媒淲hat we do have over the movie is itsa国际传媒檚 live,sa国际传媒� Frangione said, adding that audience members have lauded the Arts Club Performance above the film adaptation. sa国际传媒淵ou cansa国际传媒檛 get so gruesome (in live theatre). Itsa国际传媒檚 more about the psychological horror. Theresa国际传媒檚 a bit of humour that balances out the play as well.sa国际传媒�

Set largely in Wilkessa国际传媒� home and with a focus on the bedroom of Paul Sheldon (Andrew McNee), Frangione said the set is brought to life with set design by Lauchlin Johnston, costume design by Stephanie Kong and lighting design by Andrew Pye.

sa国际传媒淭hatsa国际传媒檚 why it lends itself so well to (theatre) adaptations. It primarily takes between two people in one location,sa国际传媒� Frangione said. sa国际传媒淭his was a rare opportunity for the Arts Club to really have fun with the sets and props. Itsa国际传媒檚 very much a character in the play, the house itself.sa国际传媒�

For Frangione, Misery is also an opportunity to test out a role that is primarily dominated by male characters.

sa国际传媒淭his is the first time in my career Isa国际传媒檝e played a real villain,sa国际传媒� said the 30-year theatre veteran, adding that female villains often fall under the femme fatale archetype. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 just a real joy to experience that for the first time.sa国际传媒�

And with Annie Wilkes, often regarded as one of Kingsa国际传媒檚 most horrifying antagonists, Frangione relishes in that villainous experience.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 been very fun to make people leap in their seats.sa国际传媒�

Arts Club Theatre Company presents William Goldmansa国际传媒檚 Misery, based on the novel by Stephen King, as part of the 2017/18 theatre series Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $45 adult, $42 senior 60-and-up and $40 student through the Ticket Seller, 250-549-7469, .