“Quaint” is a word often used to describe Midway Boulevard’s Whidbey Playhouse, a theatrical hotspot in the Oak Harbor community for 43 years and 245 plays.

Inside is a bluish lobby, with colonial-style dining room chairs, and doily woven tablecloths. A massive forced-air heater dangles from the ceiling above the television. Backstage, makeshift closets second as dressing rooms for large casts.

While the board of directors agree the space is comfortable, they also see a need for changes. In two years, they plan to begin construction to expand the playhouse, along with other updates.

“It just doesn’t look like a theater experience,” first-year playhouse board member Grace Schiffman said. “We need to revitalize this space. I want people to come in and say, ‘Wow.’”

Today, the board is faced with the ongoing maintenance of an aging facility. The heating, and lack of air conditioning, has been a consistent problem for theater staff.

“Our heater is so loud that we have to turn it on an hour before the show and then turn it off,” Schiffman said.

“In the summer there might be 120 people in the audience, kids on the stage and we close all the doors, otherwise you’d get outside noise. And there is no air movement. Kids will just come out dripping with sweat.”

Talks of renovation began two years ago, and initially board members had a larger vision for the playhouse, such as a performing arts center for North Whidbey.

However, Sue Riney, executive director, said they opted to retain the comfort and ambiance of the theater which was originally built as a church.

For phase one, the staff plans to install a new heater and air conditioner unit, pave the parking lot, give the playhouse a new coat of paint and replace the roof.

The next phase will be the expansion, including a larger lobby and dressing rooms. They will also solve certain access problems.

“Right now we have a ramp for handicap access, but we don’t have one leading to the bathroom. You have to go out in the elements to the back entrance,” Schiffman said.

The new ramp would be enclosed inside the building.

So far, the board has collected $1,500, and hopes to gain additional donations from businesses and the community. But they remain realistic.

“Economically, it’s a hard time. As a mom, the reason I’m involved is that I can see what the theater can do for young people. For a child that might have a speech impediment or doesn’t feel popular, acting can be a great equalizer. They leave the stage and people are telling them ‘great job.’ It is such an uplifting experience. It’s not equal to a food bank, but it’s important in so many ways,” Schiffman said.

“It feeds other needs,” theater board president Allenda Jenkins added.

Many of the existing needs, including the heater and air conditioner, will be finished by the summertime.

People can offer donations by calling the playhouse at 679-2237.