PORTLAND — Philip Marlowe, Raymond Chandler’s punchy, hard-drinking, tough-talking iconic character who became the model for steely private detectives and “film noir” performances, prowls the stage in Portland Stage’s production of “Trouble Is My Business.” The world premiere of James Glossman’s stage adaptation of Chandler’s detective stories runs through Feb. 19 at Portland Stage, 25A Forest Ave. David Mason portrays Marlowe, who navigates through the sordid underworld of 1930s Los Angeles.

He witnesses a murder in a bar, then matters get dark and dizzying.

As one would expect from Chandler’s work, a femme fatale — in this case, a woman in a blue dress — enters the picture and stirs the plot. All is not what it seems.

Marlowe dodges criminals, corrupt cops and the woman’s unfaithful husband to get to the bottom of a scheme, which reveals itself to have at least one false bottom.

In the play’s second act, based on Chandler’s story of the same title, Marlowe is hired to break up an affair between the son of a wealthy man and a femme fatale named Harriet Huntress. In pursuing the case, the detective uncovers a string of murders that raise questions about whether Huntress or the wealthy man might be the true villain.

Glossman directs the production. Other cast members are Paul Murphy, Ron Botting, Dustin Tucker, Daniel Noel and Leigh Poulos.

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Feb. 17; 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and Feb. 18; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Thursday and Feb. 19. For tickets, go online to www.portlandstage.com or call 774-0465.