'Ghost Brothers of Darkland County'

Alliance Theatre 2011-2012 Line-up:  April 4 through May 18, 2012

[In the tiny town of Lake Belle Reve, Mississippi in 1957, a terrible tragedy took the lives of two brothers and a beautiful young girl. During the next forty years, the events of that night became the stuff of local legend. But legend is often just another word for lie. Joe McCandless knows what really happened; he saw it all. The question is whether or not he can bring himself to tell the truth in time to save his own troubled sons, and whether the ghosts left behind by an act of violence will help him – or tear the McCandless family apart forever.]

After reading this on the Alliance Theatre's website I mused that Mississippi is the perfect setting for a hellishly gruesome story.  Believe me, I know, I lived there for a short time (not short enough IMO.)  For the people that love MS please forgive me but it was a miserable place for me and my family to live.  I'm sure I won't have any problem relating to this eerie story based in MS.   

The idea of this play spanning 40 years of music and events whets my appetite for another King story.  There should be some new Blues, Rock, and some present day genres to enjoy.   Writng for the theatre seems like it would be so natural for King, that I am surprised that it took him so long for him to do so.   

ATSK's Review of Advanced Reader's Copy: Orbit: Stephen King Comic

Sorry I've been away so long...... 

Release Date May 'll.  approx. 23 pages

The Orbit:  Stephen King comic begins with Stephen's near-fatal accident.  The comic explains how the accident happened at a point when King's life was going exceptionally well after he faced and conquered many of his own personal demons.  Orbit: Stephen King describes King's highs and lows in his personal life.  Some of the events that the comic focuses on are when his father abandoned the family, his damaging ear infections (which could have ended his life), meeting his wife Tabby, and his addiction to drugs and alcohol.  The writers of this comic peppered some of King’s poignant quotes throughout the text during different events that are described.  Overall the comic had a nice flow and recounted a lot of Mr. King’s life without losing too much time.  This book is great for the King collector in all of us.   

My personal thoughts on what I read in the comic:

I have to say when reading Orbit Stephen King I felt that King was meant to be here for all of us to enjoy his books.  There were events that could have prevented him from delivering such wonderful books to us, that it's just plain frightening!  On the other hand, he was placed in situations that made writing the stories he does possible.  In my humble opinion he and his books are a gift to the world.   He and his books changed me and my life in a profound way, which is why I feel so much is written about him including, but not limited to this biographic comic book.