‘INDIANS’ IS WHOOP-LESS WHODUNIT

To suggest that a classic is tired may be heresy, but there is a distinct squeaking at the joints in the current revival of Agatha Christie’s “Ten Little Indians” at Saddleback College. Director Patrick J. Fennell makes a determined effort to unearth new life in this venerable whodunit by spotlighting the humor in the 1943 script, but the play stubbornly remains talky and unwieldy. Complicating matters is an uneven cast.

Christie’s suspense marathon takes place on an isolated island off the coast of England, where 10 weekend guests learn that their mystery host plans to eliminate them one by one, exacting revenge for deadly deeds in their pasts. There are plenty of twists and turns in the best murder mystery tradition, but not all the cast members deliver on the promise of Christie’s Chinese box characters.

Fennell’s attempt to capitalize on the script’s humor works well in the right hands, and is best delineated by Kevin Causey’s intriguing interpretation of Captain Lombard, a young officer who may (or may not) be responsible for the deaths of troopers who served under his command. Causey’s bemused captain not only adds some levity to the grim proceedings, but keeps the audience off-guard as well.

There are other good performances: Kellam Prickett is terrific as pathetic, befuddled General Mackenzie, who shows he still has some fight left in him, and Ralph Richmond is powerful as imperious Sir Lawrence Wargrave, a judge whose surface calm harbors deep secrets. Contributing solid support are John Weston as jumpy Dr. Armstrong, tormented by a past mistake; Valerie McIlroy as the puritan Emily Brent, who has spent a lifetime passing judgment on other people, and Dawn Stramer as the seemingly innocent secretary, Vera Claythorne.

Other characterizations tend to be overworked or awkward. The pace is slack early on, and the lengthy exposition is slow going. Happily, the pace tightens up later to make for a taut, gripping conclusion. The complex story line gets no help from a hurried audio track that rattles off the mystery host’s indictments against his guests in such a rush that crucial bits of information are obliterated.

The production has just the right physical look. Wally Huntoon has designed a cold, imposing mansion interior, done in shades of gloomy gray and enhanced by R. Craig Wolf’s somber lighting design.

“Ten Little Indians” will play in repertory with “Jumpin’, Jive and Jitterbug” and “Peter Pan” through Aug. 16 in McKinney Theatre on the Saddleback College campus, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. For information, call (714) 582-4656.