Seeing It Come Alive: Reflections from a First-Time Director

Chills. Technically, the term is “frisson” or “psychogenic shivers,” but the widely-used expression “chills” is the goal of creators in every field who are looking for an emotional response from their audience. This is especially true in the genre of horror. Chills can be a reaction to purely pleasurable stimuli and are characterized by a sudden release of dopamine (the “pleasure hormone”), but they also involve activation of the sympathetic nervous system (the “fight or flight” system), which explains their connection to frightening circumstances. When audience members willingly submit to experiences of horror, they are often seeking that combination of pleasure & fear that comes with tension and terror.

As a director, it was extremely gratifying, then, to feel chills from the very first day of auditions. I had, of course, read the script for Misery and started envisioning the story onstage, but it wasn’t until I saw actors reading the lines, acting out physical exercises (falling out of a chair), and screaming on cue that I truly got the sense of what this show could be. I knew the production would be great because I got chills even before adding costumes, lighting, sound, or special effects!

Now, we are less than a week away from presenting Misery to audiences, and I’m still experiencing new chills as we add these elements in. Earlier this week, I got to work with Ben Trainor, who has composed/edited musical tracks to provide a score that amplifies the tension of the script. Starting from 2 recordings, one of a song written in 1801 & the other recorded over 150 years later, Ben has created compositions that convey the surrealism and suspense that have made Misery an enduring horror classic.

I’d love to say more, but one of the best aspects of a truly scary story is the anticipation that comes with having just enough information for your brain to switch to “high alert.” Whether you are a die-hard Stephen King fan, a crime thriller junkie, or a horror novice that is looking for a work of theatre to keep you on the edge of your seat, Hub City Theatre Company’s Misery is the show for you. I can guarantee you’ll get chills.

- Alfred Custer, Director