Dark of the Moon [Paperback]

Howard Richardson (Author), William Berney (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0878305173 | ISBN-13: 978-0878305179 | Publication Date: January 7, 1987 | Edition: 1st

As the tale unfolds, a witch boy tarries in a mountain community in love with a beautiful girl named Barbara Allen. The superstitious townspeople resent their happiness and their subsequent meddling ends in violence and tragedy. This play was proclaimed a Broadway hit.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Its `hillbilly' dialect has the strangely moving poetic quality of a folk ballad.
–Players Magazine

The kind of play the audience instantly likes.
–New York Times

A show of magical appeal.
–New York Herald Tribune

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Routledge/Theatre Arts Books; 1st edition (January 7, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878305173
• ISBN-13: 978-0878305179
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #239,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great story of love/loss. Good use of appalachian dialect., January 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dark of the Moon (Paperback)

This is a passionate yet tender look at love. The story of the Witch Boy (John) who gives up his magic for the love of Barbara Allen, and the consequences, points up predjudice and fear of the unknown. The play is well written for the characters and has many opportunites for cameo roles in the casting. It is an ideal play for small theatres to consider producing. There is a wonderful use of appalchian dialect in the characters and ample chance to add ballads and rousing dance to make it a musical as well. The Opera version doesn't yet do it justice. I have had the joy of doing several productions of this work (one with Mr. Richardson) and feel it is a great piece to represent American theatre.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure revisited., October 13, 2005

By 

E. Steele - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dark of the Moon (Paperback)

This is one of the lost treasures of the American Theater. Once one of the most produced plays by high schools and colleges it has lost stature and is only produced occasionally. The reasons for this are a mystery to me.

As an actor's exercise it offers performers (particularly young ones) a chance to stretch and discover different cultural types.

Based on the ballad "Barbara Allen" the play about a love affair and marriage between a Witchboy and a beautiful young woman is highly theatrical and filled with a mystical and earthy quality. Appalachian characters and traditional mountain songs add to the color and whimsical nature of the story.

5.0 out of 5 stars Dark and Mysterious, August 5, 2011

By 

L. Womach - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dark of the Moon (Paperback)

I've seen this piece performed and just reading the script made it seem so full of possibilities. Good play, good story. A smart choice for a school production that features a large cast.