Customer Reviews

The Night Of The Hunter (1998 Concept Cast)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The Night of the Hunter actually has a real, honest-to-goodness story, great music, great lyrics and a studio cast of sheer perfection. The CD succeeds perfectly in capturing the intense, emotional tug-of-war. If you are unfamiliar with the score or the show, take a chance and buy it. You'll be playing it over and over, I guarantee! Sally Mayes, Dorothy Louden & Ron Raines have never been better. Thumbs up all around!!!!

The old saying about never judging a book by its cover proved entirely incorrect for this cd! I was immediately attracted to the dark and clever artwork and after listening to a selection of songs in the store, fell in love with the entire work and purchased it on the spot! Driven by a strong and haunting story, the cd showcases the impressive writing ability of Stephen Cole as he guides listeners through the dark tale of what I am sure will be a rivetting piece of theatre once realised on stage. As with all great musicals, there is an incredible depth and variety to the emotions of the story which is suitably enhanced by a wonderful score reflecting both the innocence and evil of the characters! At last we have something to look forward to in upcoming theatrical productions!

When was the last time you listened to a new broadway cast recording and after one listen the music and lyrics stayed with you? Well after hearing The Night of the Hunter you will immediately realize that this amazing work is destined to be a major sucess. Performed by a stellar broadway cast headed by Dorothy Loudon,Sally Mayes, Ron Raines and Marcia Lewis this powerful story unfolds using a lush and melodic score by Claibe Richardson along with the intelligent and moving lyrics by Stephen Cole. Buy this CD and you will discover that musical theatre is alive and well and has found a new voice in Mr. Richardson and Mr. Cole

I have to agree with the previous two reviewers. The music and score for a musical have to tell the story as much as do the words, and it's not happening here. In fact, I'm not sure the lyrics are doing much better. Two stars are for the talent, of which there is some. Also, some of the songs are decent, removed from their content and intent. Honestly, I bought this sight unseen, without any idea of what I was getting, but looking at the cover, I expected something a little edgier and modern. Disappointment is the word here...

This is one of the best musical that i have heard in a very long time. There is a definate variety of music that i enjoy from the Upbeat the Lord Will Provide, One More Harvest, to the Church Chorus like music of The River Jesus, to the Slow movement of Expect a Miracle. The Actors and Actresses do a good job of bringing the characters to life...you can feel the sweetnees and inocence of Willa, The Age and Wisdom of Rachel, and the cruelness behind the facade of The Preacher. Some of my favorite songs just for the quirkiness are Lookin' Ahead LOVE THE OUJI PART!! Also greatly enjoy Ruby at The Drug Store, The Lord Will Provide, Heck I like the whole CD alot and can not wait to see it produced on Broadway or in the theater!

Claibe Richardson ("The Grass Harp") has written a very good score for this concept album. "Night of the Hunter" was a 1953 novel and later became a film noir classic in 1955 with Robert Mitchum Shelley Winters and Lillian Gish.Mr. Richardson is one of the most underrated composers in musical theatre and hopefully this will be his big claim to success. Book and lyrics were written by Stephen Cole. While the score needs some work it is still worth listening to many times. Ron Raines, Sally Mayes, Dorothy Loudon, Marcia Lewis top a stellar cast and turn in the goods in gold.I recommend this to any serious musical theatre buff. You won't be disappointed.It is also being tried out in various readings for mounting a production.Dennis

the book is amazing, the movie is great, this "show" is nothing but garbage. the music sounds like intro music to the honeymooners or mr. ed (or any other old tv series)... when willa harper sings about how she is now a widow, has two children and barely any income to support themselves she is singing in a major key, I'm looking ahead. who the heck in a midlife crisis looks forward and is happy about it?! Preacher's music is all happy and really it's actually sub-cartoon music. Preacher is a skitsophrenic murdering pshycho-pathic maniac with a fake smile and all his music is like bugs bunny! its a joke. The guys who wrote this did not read the book very carefully cause preacher never holds hiss knife in the hand called love in the book, he only holds it in his left hand. quite frankly i have no idea how it ever got produced or even how they got permission to do it because the book is visualy just magic, really perfect subject matter for an opera, which i hear one is in the process of being written and is almost done. I can not warn you enough, STAY AWAY FROM THIS "SHOW"![.] ... the other reviews here speak volume cause obviously the guys who give it 5 stars are either in the cast or buddies of them, or something. where as myself and several others cringe at the mention of the musical. look for the opera in the next couple years, i've heard its absolutely astonishing and portrays what davis grubb really invisioned.

This was pethetic, First could i not tell what the heck the plot was from the songs, but the singing was bleh, the music not entertaining, and all i heard was one song about god after another. I coulnt belive i bought it. Oh well you buy some bad ones when you take risks.

The original film was already a musical!!!!!!!!

8 musical selections: (count them yourself)

3 choruses

-children (opening theme)

-children ("...hing, hang, hung...)

-preacher & church ladies

1 duet

-Gish & Mitchum

4 solos

-preacher ("...leaning, leaning...")

-uncle birdie

-pearl

-lullaby (anon.)

we don't notice because the music is so well integrated with the story, it doesn't stand out.