The Giver

B Street Theatre, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 2711 B St., Sacramento. $13-$20. (916) 443-5300, www.bstreettheatre.org. Through Feb. 19.

A dark, dystopian drama about a bland, rigid future society in which people are kept in line via drug-induced mind control, to the point that most of them can no longer perceive colors … and this show is aimed at a target audience of eight to 13-year-olds?

That’s what the B Street Family Series is currently offering with The Giver. And yes, it’s something of a departure in a series that ordinarily features upbeat shows focusing the lives of heroes or heroines out of American history, or energetic adaptations of fairy tales or bestselling picture books for kids.

But actually, this project makes sense. Lois Lowry’s novel The Giver (winner of the 1994 Newbery Medal, and the source for Eric Coble’s script) has sold nearly four million copies and is widely read by students from fifth grade through middle school. It’s also a thought-provoking story, somewhat in the vein of George Orwell’s 1984 or Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World (or even George Lucas’ pre-Star Wars film THX 1138, for that matter), but pitched in an age-appropriate way.

The production features newcomer Grant Jordan as the 12-year-old Jonas, picked to receive the community’s collective memories, including some that have been edited out of most people’s minds.

Also notable is the performance of Gary S. Martinez, familiar as a cut-up in Capital Stage’s annual production of Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!). Here, in a serious role as The Giver, he embodies an interesting combination of tenderness and regret as he passes on what he knows to young Jonas.

Director Laura Baker paces the production nicely; set designer Ian Wallace and costume designer Nancy Pipkin contrast the grey-toned, neat textures of everyday life with the colorful, cluttered dwelling where The Giver lives.

This show isn’t really intended for younger kids; a five-year-old would probably find it both too talky and too scary. But older kids—and adults—will find plenty going on to launch interesting discussions after the show.