STAGE REVIEWS : A PLODDING ‘NILE’

Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Nile” takes a sluggish journey at Golden West College. Although the play’s setting is exotic and its characters properly mysterious, the production fails to capitalize on either of these elements.

Director Charles Mitchell sets a mood that is complacent rather than turbulent. Set in the late 1940s, the mystery unfolds aboard a stylish steamer filled to the portholes with avarice, jealousy and bigotry. Yet, as adapted by Dame Agatha from her novel “Death on the Nile,” the characters are thinly written and the tale is slow and unfocused. Further, director Mitchell doesn’t add any color to the characters, and his attempts at atmosphere are done in by incongruous costuming and acting that ranges from nonexistent to hysterical.

The majority of the characterizations don’t arouse much interest--we don’t wonder about the characters’ motivations as we should in a tale of this kind. However, Mike Owens is solid as the alternately smarmy and sleuthing reverend, Renata Mitchell makes all her comic moments count as the haughty grande dame and David C. Robb has some sparks of conviction as the young socialist. “Murder on the Nile” continues through July 20 at Golden West College, 15744 Golden West St., Huntington Beach. For information, call (714) 895-8378.