You wouldn't expect a show titled "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" to be filled with likeable characters, but not caring enough to root for any of them is a big reason why the Diamond Head Theatre production feels like a dirty rotten disappointment.

The production looks and sounds good. Morgan Lane-Tanner has costumed a stage full of jewel-toned evening gowns and tuxedos. Choreographer Christine Yasunaga keeps them swirling. Musical director Melina Lillios supplies orchestral and vocal substance. And Willie Sabel contributes a set of sliding lattice panels and an architecturally sumptuous spiral staircase.

Unfortunately, the actors rarely climb those stairs, which serve mostly as backdrop and as a fitting metaphor for the central performances.

Directed by Rob Duval, the main roles lack sufficient charm to whitewash over the charlatans they play.

When a show turns on disreputable central characters, it is essential that they throw some appealing lifelines to the audience to keep them from drifting out to sea.

Tony Young has the central role of Laurence, a smooth con man who specializes in separating wealthy women tourists from their money. The role is all about studied poses — "left hand in pocket, right hand akimbo" — and a collection of outrageous European accents.

Unfortunately, that highly confident surface plays too much like a cultured smirk, and gets its deserved comeuppance only late in the show. So late that an audience that has already dropped the character may be unwilling to pick him up again before they leave the theater.

Matt Pennaz plays the contrasting role of Freddie, a rough-at-the-edges American with natural boyish charm and expectations low and soiled enough to consider $20 a big score. Since the market won't support two con men, the two enter into a wager to determine which of them will leave town.

Their most successful scene is the one that shows some cracks in their Teflon surfaces. Freddie suffers in silence in a wheelchair while Laurence too cheerfully whacks his supposedly paralyzed legs with a long stick.

In supporting roles, Tricia Marciel displays a lovely voice as Christine, and Daniel James Kunkel and Yvonne Iversen find some happiness as their characters come together.

Composer David Yazbek supplies one good tune, "Nothing Is Too Wonderful To Be True." Otherwise, you'd be hard-pressed walking into the theater to name one of its songs, and equally stymied to hum a memorable few bars while walking out.

Mostly, the DHT production of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" slides away from its audience, supporting the argument that not all successful movies should be made into stage musicals.