Take a dip in the ‘Waterin’ Hole’

Joe Delaney

Friday, Sept. 19, 1997 | 9:09 a.m.

"Waterin' Hole" is an original musical comedy-drama, written by the multi-talented Gale Baker. Set in a Nashville bar, the plot brings together seven characters and a piano-playing ghost. Baker is credited as author, composer, lyricist and director. Thursday's performance ran an hour and 40 minutes without an intermission. Baker's 23 original songs are vital to the plot, well constructed and performed by a talented cast.

The Winchester Community Center seems better suited to concerts, festivals and one-night events. In fairness, the stage setting, sound and lights were uniformly good. What was really lacking is community support.

"Waterin' Hole" ran successfully in 1990 at the Los Angeles Tamarind Theater and garnered Drama-Logue Awards for writing, direction and musical direction. Baker had eight of her plays produced in Los Angeles before relocating to Las Vegas last year.

Randy Hendrickson, just off a tour with "Evita," portrays Carl Hawkins' ghost. Lillian D'Honau is the Waterin' Hole proprietor, widow Dixie Lee Davis, and Bert Anderson Jr. is her son, Willie. Gary Oakes, with copious credits, portrays Horace Earl Honeycutt and Terry Ritter is Hazel, his unrequited wife. Dolly Coulter is a sultry Wanda Lou Wilcox, object of Willie's intentions. Michael DeLano is the bar's entertainer, Crocodile Jeffrey, and Gale Baker plays Loretta Larson, a star returning home from Hollywood.

The songs are more important than the plot at this point. We recommend your support. Those attending will enjoy a pleasant 100 minutes of musical theater performed by a uniformly excellent cast, six of whom are appearing courtesy of Actors Equity.

JOE DELANEY is a SUN entertainment critic.