Tough times, with a few laughs

This Neil Simon coming-of-age comedy from the ’80s isn’t a daring choice artistically, but there’s plenty to like about the Sacramento Theatre Company’s production of Brighton Beach Memoirs, which benefits from several winning performances. Perky newcomer Craig Piaget animates viewpoint character Eugene (Simon’s stand-in) with energy and teenage angst. But the strained relationship between sisters Kate and Blanche (Jamie Jones and Julie Anchor, as middle-aged moms with nearly grown kids) is also quite good, and Matt K. Miller is marvelous as Jack (the father, working several jobs to pay the bills and struggling mightily to keep the family from fracturing). Miller also directed, deftly linking the play’s 1937 setting—with sputtering economy and scary happenings abroad—with circumstances today.

Brighton Beach Memoirs, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, 12:30 and 6:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday; $15-$46. Sacramento Theatre Company, 1419 H Street; (916) 443-6722; www.sactheatre.org. Through March 27.