Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck’s most tragic duo is Lennie and George, an unlikely pair of migrant workers bonded together in a dysfunctional brotherhood of desperate men. In its season opener, Sacramento Theatre Company gives us a beautifully rendered production of this classic, with some strong performances, good direction and artful staging. The strength in Of Mice and Men lies in the relationship between George(Matt K. Miller) and Lennie (Jason Kuykendall), and interesting choices by the two STC leads both strengthen and undermine the partnership. While both performances are memorable, they both need to be toned down for the ultimate heartbreak to shine through.
Sacramento Theatre Company; 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, $34-$38, 1419 H Street; (916) 443-6722 or (888) 4-STC
TIX; www.sactheatre.org. Through November 11.