The body of a young woman, her face destroyed by a gunshot, is found in her New York apartment.

A detective attempts to solve the mystery of her death by learning about her life, but as he investigates — her lovers and her liquor — the hard-boiled cop is falling under a spell. It’s either that or her record collection that keeps him sitting in her flat, gazing at her portrait. That is where he is when the apartment door opens and in walks a woman who appears to be the original of the portrait that has him spellbound.

In “Laura,” the stage version of the 1944 mystery romance that opened at Dreamweavers on Friday,  mystery takes a back seat to romance. Who the victim really is and who, therefore, is the murderer, does not spark as much wonder as other questions, like who is Laura Hunt and why is the landscape littered with men who are in love with her, and does this include the gumshoe?

Director June Alane Reif  has undertaken an ambitious and mostly successful project to recreate the mood of a 1940s thriller. The intent comes across before a word is uttered; the set is a striking chiaroscuro study in black, white and gray. Even the liquor in the decanters on Laura’s bar is — well, this is actually a bit odd, but the libations that the visitors to Laura’s flat drink in liberal qualities are all black, dyed by food color. When the detective is pondering who added the bottle of cheap bourbon to Laura’s classy mix, he doubtlessly had most of the audience wondering too — where did the mystery person buy this clearly inferior bourbon — it’s, er, inky black.

But this is a slight diversion. Reif has drawn together a strong cast to weave this story; foremost is a newcomer to the Dreamweavers stage, Justin Scheuer, who gives a compelling performance of considerable depth and wit as Detective Mark McPherson. Equally engaging is David Foushee who returns to Dreamweavers as the foppish columnist Waldo Lydecker. A paradoxical preening peacock in a tuxedo, he’s darkly comic and weirdly vulnerable to his own frustrated passion for Laura. The scenes in which McPherson and Lydecker spar are the most dynamic in the production.

Another newcomer, Stewart Evan Smith, plays the role of Laura’s current fiance, Shelby Carpenter. Smith, who was part of a brilliant production of “Raisin in the Sun” at Solano College last year, creates a complex, baffling characterization of a cad. Patte Quinn demonstrates her dramatic versatility with a deft and warm portrayal of Laura’s loyal but opinionated maid. Rose Marie Sweeney, who brings a golden touch to every role she undertakes, portrays a neighbor who has a special grudge against Laura, for bewitching her son, Danny, played with earnest charm by Sam Burch, a student at Vintage High School.

At the center of all this admiration is Laura. It’s not really giving anything away to say that the woman who walks into the apartment is, in fact, Laura, because this is established very early on. Kathryn Tkel plays the role in a good performance that falls just short of the mark. Attractive she clearly is, confident, witty and cool, but her “hey, I just can’t find a good fiance, but this hunky detective has possibilities” attitude comes across more as a forthright woman of 2007 than a mysterious woman of 1944, despite the number of cigarettes she smokes.

Except for an occasional falter in timing — picking up the pace could really increase tension so vital in a thriller — and a somewhat lame climax after the murderer reveals himself — it would be much more gripping if you hadn’t seen the detective just go out onto the balcony and therefore know Laura isn’t really alone with a merciless killer —  it’s a good evening’s entertainment, well worth checking out. For those who have viewed the 1944 film “Laura,” there is enough that is different in the stage production to keep them engaged; for those who haven’t there is even more.

“Laura” runs through March 25. The Thursday night performance is a special benefit for the Sierra Service Project of the First United Methodist Church’s youth group. Tickets, which include a dessert reception beginning at 7 p.m., are $25. For information about this performance, call 253-1411. For all other performances call 255-5483.

‘Laura’

Dreamweavers Theater, Napa

March 15, 16, 17, 23 and 24  8 p.m.

March 18 and 25, 2 p.m.

Tickets: $20 general/$18 seniors, military, groups

March 15, $25, benefit performance for Sierra Service Project

Info, 255-5483, www.dreamweaverstheatre.org.