An English psychological thriller first produced in 1935, Emlyn Williams' "Night Must Fall" seems a bit creaky in its resurrection at Olney Theatre Center. This play's simplistic psychology and mechanical plotting make it drag during most of the first act but, fortunately, there is enough murderous nocturnal activity to appeal to the amateur detective in you in that second act.

If Williams' thriller is often less than thrilling, it's partly because there have been so many plays, movies and TV shows since then that involve a country house murder case.

This particular house is lovingly detailed in the Olney production's set design, and the actors certainly give lively performances in that house. But the basic plot has an overly familiar quality.

The owner of this country house, Mrs. Bramson (Rosemary Prinz), is a wheelchair-bound elderly woman who barks orders at her frumpy-looking niece, Olivia Grayne (Julie-Ann Elliott). Mrs. Bramson also shouts at a docile young servant, Dora Parkoe (Briel Banks); a mature servant who brusquely talks back in some amusing exchanges, Mrs. Terence (Anne Stone); and a visiting nurse, Libby (Kathleen Akerley), who does what she can to make the perpetually complaining Mrs. Bramson more comfortable.

For all the conversational sniping that occurs in this sitting room, it's basically a peaceful place with an established routine. One thing that may change things around here is that a gentleman caller, Hubert Laurie (Carl Randolph), wants to marry Olivia. However, she isn't very keen about marrying somebody who is even more prim, proper and boring than herself.

Hubert engenders a bit of parlor gossip in this house full of opinionated women, but it's just a mildly diverting prelude for what happens when a stranger walks into their lives. Dan (Tim Getman) is a tall, dark and handsome bellhop whose neatly pressed uniform and slick manners can't entirely conceal darker currents in his personality.

Everybody is curious about Dan's background and his present activities, especially considering a woman has just been murdered nearby. When Inspector Belsize (Paul Morella) knocks at the door, it isn't just a social call.

The playwright does everything except paint the word "guilty" on Dan's forehead, and so the play relies more on ominous mood than on mystery. It also relies on showing how the women in this household respond to this enigmatic visitor.

The unmarried Olivia initially seems like she's on the verge of slipping into spinsterhood, but she does have a lot of curiosity about Dan's rough charm.

Getman's performance as Dan successfully combines the character's dashing and devious elements, but the actor tends to overdo his gestures. This character admittedly is scripted as a nearly ludicrous grab bag of abnormal psychology traits, but the actor's blustery stage laughter and arm-waving tactics are too campy.

Others in the cast are more restrained, including Prinz's acerbic control as the nasty-tempered Mrs. Bramson, and Elliott's introverted embodiment of the repressed Olivia.

Although it takes a while for the simmering intrigue to boil, the second act has old-fashioned entertainment value. Will there be more murders once night falls? Will the inspector, puffing away on his Sherlock Holmes-evocative pipe, figure out who done it and why they done it? Stick around to observe the characters pose questions you will have already answered.

"Night Must Fall" runs through Oct. 25 at Olney Theatre Center, at 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road (Route 108) in Olney. Tickets are $26 to $49. Call 301-924-3400 or go to www.olneytheatre.org.

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