NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE -- The musical at the Shaw Festival's Royal George Theatre never builds up a full head of steam. When it's titled On the Twentieth Century and is set aboard the fabled train that ran from Chicago to New York, that's more than slightly problematic.

Based on an earlier stage play by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, On the Twentieth Century pulled into Broadway in the late 1970s, ultimately scoring a total of five Tony Awards, thanks to the book and lyrics of Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and Cy Coleman's music.

But rail service, as we all know, has been in a state of drastic decline since the '70s and the production of the musical that puffed into the Royal George for its Canadian premiere certainly echoes that decline.

By and large, it remains a delightful musical confection, relating as it does the troubled relationship between hard-up theatrical impresario Oscar Jaffee (played by Gary Krawford) and his one-time leading lady, Lily Garland (played by Patty Jamieson).

Once, long ago, he plucked her from obscurity and placed her on the stage, where she became famous. Now, he's down on his luck and fleeing creditors, while she's promoting her latest movie.

When they meet aboard the fabled train, Jaffee tries to rekindle the romance they once shared, in hopes that he can lure her back to the stage and thereby revive his sagging ortunes.

The problem is, there's likely to be more chemistry generated in a chance encounter between strangers on a subway than ever sparks between Krawford and Jamieson, under the joint direction of Valerie Moore (who also choreographed) and Patricia Hamilton.

Essentially character actors, Krawford and Jamieson succeed in pulling off strong individual performances, but in order to make the romance work between them, each requires the anchor of a compatible romantic lead opposite them.

Not that this production offers them a lot of anything with which to pull it off. With precious little in the way of show stopping choreography, the entire show just seems to lumber along, more of a milk run on a branch line than any kind of express connection.

They even manage to squander the talents of what should have been an impressive supporting cast, including seasoned Shaw talent such as Brigitte Robinson, lost in the role of the lunatic Letitia Peabody Primrose, inspiration behind the rather tasteless She's a Nut number, which ironically proves to be one of the best in the show.

Patrick R. Brown and William Vickers manage some nice moments as Oscar's sidekicks. Severn Thompson, Evan Buliung, Guy Bannerman, Jeff Madden, Lisa Horner and a host of others round out the cast with varying degrees of limited success.

But even though musical director Paul Sportelli and designer Yvonne Sauriol do their utmost to keep this thing on the rails, it's all for naught.

When you're travelling on the Twentieth Century, it's ultimately not enough to just get where you're going. You're expected to arrive in style.

IF YOU GO

What: On the Twentieth Century, by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, directed by Valerie Moore and Patricia Hamilton

Where: Royal George Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake

When: Till Nov. 2

Tickets: $47-$77 (some discounts may apply); 1-800-511-7429

Rating: * * * (out of five)