The Night of the Hunter

October 29–November 7, 2010
Carpenter Performance Hall
Irving Arts Center

Inspired by the film The Night of the Hunter and based on the novel by Davis Grubb

Music by Claibe Richardson
Book and lyrics by Stephen Cole

When the depression in West Virginia proved too hard for Ben Harper and his family, Ben went out and killed a man for $10,000. After hiding the money in his daughter Pearl's doll and swearing his son John to secrecy, Ben was caught and hanged for his sins. But before he died he told his cell mate about the money and the widow he was about to leave behind. Now Harry Powell, also known as the Preacher, is on his way to find the money and marry the widow. He looks to the Lord to tell him what to do.

In Cresap's Landing, the Harper family copes with their loss as best they can—young John by clinging to a dream of security, and his mother Willa by working at the local ice cream shop and looking to the future.

When the Preacher arrives in town with a phony story and a dazzling smile, he convinces everyone in the ice cream shop of his piety by telling them the story of the words tattooed on the knuckles of his hands, Love and Hate. Everyone falls for him… everyone except John. As the whole town catches religious fervor, the Preacher woos Willa.

Despite John's protests Willa marries the Preacher, giving him the opportunity to badger the children about the money. When Willa comes home unexpectedly one night and witnesses her husband threatening little Pearl, she realises the truth, leaving the Preacher no alternative but to slit her throat.

With their mother disposed of, John and his sister have no choice but to run. They take a skiff and set out down river to Lord-knows-where with the Preacher in pursuit.

Fate and the current bring John and Pearl's skiff to Rachel Cooper, an ageless country widow who takes in strays. One of Rachel's strays, the 15-year-old flirt Ruby, meets up with the Preacher and she tells him where his children are. He shows up to claim them but in a show of strength, courage and downright faith (not to mention a good amount of buckshot) Rachel saves the children.

As surely as autumn follows summer, Christmas comes and the children begin their healing. As John realises that everything he has feared is just a shadow, Rachel comments on the power of children and their God-given ability to endure and abide.

Stephen Cole