 In the very first opening number of Shining in Misery: A King-Size Parody, which enjoyed a one-night-only performance at New York City’s famous venue 54 Below on Wednesday, May 8, I had already envisioned a new drinking game: Take a shot of something (Perhaps a gin martini, in homage to Jack Torrance…) for every reference to Stephen King’s vast canon, starting with “Miss Desjardin”, to meeting Danny Torrance, to a 1958 red and white Plymouth Fury, and MANY more… But it soon became apparent that any King fan would suffer from alcohol poisoning before the hooky finale of the bombastic first song, A Greener Mile. The audience that night, which ranged from garden variety theater lovers to Stephen King megafans, clearly appreciated the seemingly infinite number of Kingly references– some of which were SOOOO subtle that only the hardest of hardcore “Richard Bachman” fans would pick them up. Shining in Misery, featuring music by Andrew Abrams, lyrics/book by Mark-Eugene Garcia, and book by Colleen Duvall, also fulfills some long-gestating “Constant Reader” fantasies.
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 Shining in Misery, A King-Size Parody is Children of the Corn-y in all the best ways.BY
By: Nathan Johnson When Shining in Misery took over 54 Below, it was packed tighter than the ball room of the Overlook Hotel on July 4, 1921. The May 8th show started with a delightfully ominous number (with killer harmonies and orchestrations) as Jack, Wendy, Danny Torrance and their nanny Annie Wilkes head to the Overlook Hotel. This quickly set the tone and, within seconds, the audience was laughing. The madcap adventure took us on a tour de force celebration of some of Stephen King’s most beloved characters, brimming with so many references that even the biggest King aficionado would have their work cut out for them. And it’s not only King who earns the honor of a parody—no musical theatre show or pop culture icon was safe (watch out Annie and Hamilton, IT is coming for you)! |
Mark-Eugene GarciaWriter/Actor/Storyteller. Theatre Maker. Husband. Bad Hombre. Cat Taunter. ContentsArchives
October 2024
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