Ready, set...Zap!

“Buzzzz.”

One minute it’s the Russian countryside at the turn of the century.

“Buzz.”

Enter the living room of a feisty southern family.

“Buzzzzzz.”

Back at the turn of the century — this time with some prim and proper Brits.

“Buzzzzz.”

Get read to be zapped back and forth in time, as well as longitude, latitude and attitude, as the Oak Harbor High School Drama Club presents “Zap” March 13, 14, and 15, at 7 p.m. each night, at Parker Hall.

“Zap” is actually seven plays within a play.

It’s fast-paced comedy in which audiences will be invited to be a part of the play, “zapping” along when they want the show to switch. As an introductory briefing explains, “the votes are tallied by a computer in the back” and the switches are appropriately made.

“Pretty soon everything gets zapped so many times the different plays begin mixing,” drama teacher Mary MacGowan explained. “It all leads to some pretty funny moments.”

This fun comedy for the whole family incorporates tongue-twisting accents and fast-paced action to keep everyone — even the actors — on their toes.

“It’s actors playing actors playing actors,” said senior Kyndra Gilvarry.

MacGowan calls it “one big conglomeration of confusion, suspense, and downright hilarity.”

The show’s characters sound like they’re waiting for a punchline.

There’s a laid-back New York sports writer and his fast-talking fiction writer friend whose life has been stolen for someone else’s book. And in walks a proper British family experiencing — well, “changes” after the war.

Senior Brian Culbertson has been stretching his acting chops at Oak Harbor High School since he was a freshman, and he’s been cast in a number of Whidbey Playhouse shows. He’ll head off to the University of Washington next year where he plans to either major in drama or music.

He said “Zap” is a great show that introduces people to the stage he loves.

“Drama is so real with action and emotion happening right there in front of you,” Culbertson said. “We’ve worked really hard and it will really show.”

And only in live theater do you get the chance to meet the actors after the final curtain all.

“You can’t get that from TV,” he said.

The cast is a mix of stage veterans, like Culbertson, to thespian newbies like senior Josh Lamb.

“I took drama because it’s something new,” Lamb said. “It’s a different challenge from anything I’ve ever faced in football or ROTC.”

The whole cast has been feeling the pressure of being on cue with all the quick scene changes and many of the actors portraying more than one character in more than one of the seven plays within the play.

“It’s been incredible, switching back and forth,” Lamb said. “People will enjoy seeing the new faces on the stage as well as the talent of people they’ve seen before.”

One of those familiar faces will be Gilvarry who frequents the Wildcat theater stage as well as the Whidbey Playhouse.

“There’s something for the whole family in this show,” she said. “All of the accents and characters keep things interesting and the humor will entertain everyone from kids to adults.”

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.