Snapshot of California Latino life

This small, thoughtful, well-acted little gem of a production by Teatro Espejo features a somewhat neglected script by Latina playwright Cherríe Moraga. Though she’s well-known as a feminist and Latina author, her work is all too rarely staged in Sacramento. Shadow of a Man revolves around a family tragedy involving awakening (and reawakening) sexuality, complicated by a long-held secret. The tense family relationships are strained by conflicting feelings of honor and duty, rebellion against arbitrary patriarchal authority, and alcohol. The play also offers a deftly observed snapshot of a lower-middle class California Mexican-American family in the late 1960s, torn between upholding tradition and moving into broader Anglo culture.

Shadow of a Man, 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. $15-$20. Teatro Espejo in the Wilkerson Theatre at the California Stage, 1725 25th Street; (916) 451-5822; www.calstage.org. Through August 1.