You might say that Scott Westerman is refereeing a fight between a married couple.
That’s because he’s the director of Citadel Theatre’s production of “Misery,” William Goldman’s adaptation of the Stephen King novel, in which Artistic Director Scott Phelps is playing novelist Paul Sheldon opposite his wife, Managing Director Ellen Phelps, as deranged fan Annie Wilkes.
Westerman proposed the project to Scott Phelps and suggested that he and his wife would be great in the two roles. The show runs from Sept. 10 to Oct. 12 at the Lake Forest theater.
The director noted that he had directed Ellen Phelps in “A Jukebox for the Algonquin” earlier this year, and “I saw how deep her well was as an actor.” He was able to persuade Scott Phelps to put the play on the season’s schedule and take the role of Paul.
The late playwright Goldman, who was a Highland Park native, also wrote the screenplay for the 1990 film version of “Misery,” which preceded the stage version.
Westerman praised the play, describing it as “taut and precise. It is exactly what is needed to tell the story and keep the important themes alive.”
As compared to the film, the director said, “It really streamlines their relationship and the dynamic between the artist and the fan.”
Watching Scott Phelps’ annual struggle to choose a season that will please audiences and attract performers, Westerman decided, “There’s a lot of Paul Sheldon in Scott Phelps in that couple of months every year.”
In terms of the casting of the couple for the lead roles, Westerman said, “It’s kind of a really cool opportunity to put the two of them onstage together. Their relationship has got to be a little bit exposed in this play.”
Because he has directed both actors before, Westerman said, “I’ve gained their trust.”
Scott Phelps said he decided to play the role of Paul because “I was kind of talked into it.”
His wife had already accepted the part and the couple hadn’t been on the stage together since ‘The Christians’ in 2023, he said. “In the existence of Citadel — 23 years — we have only been on the stage together three times.”
Scott Phelps described the show as “a beast. The special effects and the physicality of the show is a lot for anybody that’s in their ‘60s. If I take another role, it will not require kneepads.”
The actor described Paul as “an intelligent writer living in New York. He’s found success with this romance Gothic novel series. And he wants to do something a little bit more serious.” The play shows how he is thwarted in that attempt.
“As artists, we all want our fans to be passionate about our work,” Scott Phelps said. “Annie kind of takes it to another level.”
In terms of performing this role with his wife, Scott Phelps said, “I joke with people that we don’t need marriage counseling for a while. We get it all out onstage.”
He admitted, though, “It’s fun to connect with Ellen. She’s a good actress — very natural — and she’s finding stuff.”
Ellen Phelps reported, “What people are finding fascinating, and a little fun, is that I get to torture my husband of 41 years onstage, and I can get away with it.”
On the other hand, she said, “Being mostly a two-hander, I trust him more than any other actor I’ve ever worked with to be onstage with for something like this. We’re very instinctual with each other.”
To prepare for their roles, the couple has been taking long walks together on nature trails, working on their lines together, Ellen Phelps noted.
She praised Goldman’s staged version, observing, “I did see the movie a long time ago, and I didn’t have much sympathy for Annie. Playing Annie, I have more compassion for her.”
Director Westerman believes the small space of the Citadel Theatre stage is going to be perfect for this production, which primarily takes place in one room. Also, he has figured out an innovative way to take audiences to different spaces. “I’ve cracked the code,” he declared.
Performances of “Misery” are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, plus 1 p.m. matinees on Sept. 17 and Oct. 1. There are no performances on Sept. 19 and Oct. 3. Tickets are $22 for previews, Oct. 10-11, and $48 for the regular run.
For reservations, call 847-735-8554, ext. 1 or visit citadeltheatre.org.
Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.