It’s been a long, dark, cold winter and I’ve had enough. My clothes don’t fit and my dog got hit by a truck. He’s okay now, but still. Anyway, I think something should be done about those people at the Actor’s Theatre of Orcas Island. We’ve been huddled around our stoves, and they’ve somehow managed to have a ton of fun polishing some cool new plays by amazingly talented local playwrights. Somebody should do something – such as, going to the Grange to see some of the funniest, most touching bits of acting a terrific cast of local talent can put together.

Playfest 2011 consists of seven plays in one evening, so the tight editing that is apparent is a virtue that keeps everything right on track.

“Round Trip Fare,” a play taking place in a beauty parlor on Orcas Island, written by Lin McNulty and directed by Melinda Milligan, starred Aaimee Johnson, Katie Zwilling, Luann Pamatian, and Leslie Liddle. Witty lines (“the odds aren’t good here, and the goods are odd”) with a strong local flavor spoken smoothly and seamlessly by sheer talent. Pamatian could bottle sincerity, Johnson is sweetly true, and Zwilling continues to delight. Liddle is ideal.

“Necessary Risks” sent the phrase “a riddle wrapped in a puzzle inside an enigma” running through my head as we were hurtled, in a state of high anxiety, toward the end of time. Dove Dingman was righteously uptight in her knowledge about the end of time, Cameron Smart was believable as a co-worker, and Maggie Vinson was a delight as a capable, questioning reporter. Doug Bechtel directed this thriller written by Brigid Ehrmantraut, for whom I will break the unwritten rule that one does not disclose the age of a lady: Miss Ehrmantraut is all of fourteen years of age. We haven’t seen the last of this brilliant young lady.

“Test” is a taut, angry story strongly acted by Jamie Mulligan-Smith, with help from Chris Jones, on an interesting stage that shows the actors to good advantage. Jennifer Brennock wrote this always-topical story about pregnancy and possibilities, with tight direction by Robert Hall.

“The Reunion,” written by Susan Anderson and directed by Angelica Mayo, starred Melinda Milligan, Annette Mazzarella, John Mazzarella, and Freddie Hinkle. Annette has been trying to kill Melinda for years, while John relives his football glory and Freddie links up again with his old lab partner. This cast of polished, capable actors made the well-scripted play a smooth, enjoyable ride punctuated by speedbumps of sudden hilarity. A real treat!

“Lockdown,” a play written by Michele Griskey and directed by George Zimbelman, showcased Regina Zwilling and Ron Hershenow as faculty members facing assault in a tense play that is more topical than we’d like. How would you react in such a situation? Fine dialogue in a well-directed effort by two capable actors made this an enjoyable play.

I confess that “The Request,” which seemed in a way the most familiar story, was also the most disturbing. Ron Herman has written a clever treatment of an impossible situation, directed by Robert Hall, with Kaitlyn Pulju’s bright performance a nice counterpoint to Frank Michel’s smooth acting.

The final play of the evening, “Digital Disconnect,” written by Andrea Hendrick, Ruthie Newman, and Mary Poletti, and directed by Doug Bechtel, was quite simply a riot. Clever, funny lines spoken by Pam Evans, Maura O’Neill, Virginia Erhardt, Lin McNulty, and the voice of Steve Henigson had the audience reeling from one laugh to another over the computer travails of a group of older ladies. This was the right play to end the evening as the familiar actors, each capable and polished in her own right, played off each other in a familiar theme that brought gales of laughter from the audience.

It’s been a long winter. Treat yourself to a night out with the Actor’s Theatre of Orcas Island at the Grange.  Remaining showings are from May 6 to 8 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 and available at Darvill’s Bookstore, www.orcasactors.com and at the door.