The Night of the Hunter

The Willows Theatre, one of the Bay Area’s most celebrated professional theatres, presents the world premiere production of the musical thriller The Night of the Hunter. This new musical is based on the best-selling novel by Davis Grubb, which spawned the1955 film noir classic starring Robert Mitchum and Shelley Winters. Music is by Claibe Richardson (The Grass Harp, Lola), with book and lyrics by Stephen Cole (After the Fair, Continental Divide).

Set in 1930s West Virginia, The Night of the Hunter is the quintessential story of evil versus goodness and innocence. In the story, an ex-con – and con man – who calls himself The Preacher insinuates himself into the lives of a widow and her two young children. While Widow Harper and six-year-old Pearl are charmed and seduced by the man, ten-year-old John mistrusts this would-be stepfather until the boy’s fears are horribly justified. The children flee, with The Preacher in hot pursuit. They end up in the care of a kindly old woman, and a final confrontation brings the children to a newer, more hopeful place in their lives.