Actors Darren Hembd and Christopher Dolan have to reach deep, real deep, in their actor’s bag of tricks to pull off the characters they portray in “A Tuna Christmas,” now playing at the Changing Scene Theatre Northwest in Bremerton, directed by Linda Jensen.

After all, neither of the young men resembles a Texas housewife, blonde-beehived busybody or pot-bellied redneck.

“A Tuna Christmas” is a sequel to the hugely popular comedy, “Greater Tuna,” written by Ed Howard, Joe Sears and Jaston Williams, and features an equally diverse cast of zany characters as they prepare for the holiday in the Texan burg of Tuna.

Over the course of the play Hembd and Dolan play 22 different characters, all without a break. That feat in itself is an interesting gimmick, watching as one character keeps talking while the other goes out a door then reemerges as a new character, but the quick changes are accompanied by a running dialogue that is both silly and witty.

There’s something about Texans that is inherently funny, and the writers take full advantage of this. Even the clod-hopper names are designed to elicit snickers.

The play starts with radio commentators Thurston Wheelis and Arles Struvie, who morph into Elmer Watkins and Didi Snavely, and on and on.

In one sequence Hembd plays housewife Bertha Bumiller while Dolan plays her surly teenage twins, Charlene and Stanley. Other characters include Didi Snavely, Inita Goodwin, and Helen Bedd.

Still, Jensen said the play is good family fun, with a possible PG rating.

“I don’t normally like to do Christmas shows,” Jensen said, “but I thought this one would work.”

Jensen was seen last Christmas on stage in the Bremerton Community Theatre production of “The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of A Christmas Carol,” which she said she would do again any time.

She made her Changing Scene directorial debut last season with the intense David Mamet drama “Glengarry Glen Ross.”

Jensen has 36 years of acting and directing experience, and has done voice-overs and commercials. Last summer, she completed her first independent film.

Hembd is a staple of the Changing Scene players, and this isn’t the first time he’s dressed as a woman. In the summer ‘04 Shakespeare production he played a coconut bikini-clad heroine.

This is the fifth Changing Scene show for Dolan, who was last seen as Hamlet at the beginning of the season.

The two work well together, and it’s amazing how fast they can spit out that Texan drawl, even in drag.

“A Tuna Christmas” opened Dec. 2, and runs weekends through Dec. 30 at the Changing Scene Theatre Northwest, in the West Sound Business Park, 5889 SR 303 NE, East Bremerton.

Showtimes are 8 p.m. Dec. 9, 10, 16, 17, 22, 23, 29 and 30 and 2 p.m. Dec. 11 and 18. There are no shows Dec. 24 and 25.

Tickets are $12 adults, $10 seniors, students and military, $8 ages 12 and younger, reservations recommended, (360) 792-8601. wu