Today’s free lunchtime concert in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre was a preview of Against the Grain’s upcoming Figaro’s Wedding.  Its got a brand new English libretto by director Joel Ivany very much along the lines of the La Bohème they did at the Tranzac a few years back; setting the story in today’s Toronto but keeping the basic plot line roughly similar.  Today’s show featured excerpts from the piece plus interviews with the characters by Joel.  I don’t want to do spoilers but let’s just say it’s very clever and very funny.  It’s got a great cast of young local singers and it’s been arranged for piano and string quartet by the amazing Topher Mokrzewski. This is going to be really, really good and I’ve never heard anything get such an enthusiastic reception in the RBA.

The full show is going to play at a real wedding hall, The Burroughes Building at 639 Queen Street West on May 29-31 and on June 2.  There’s no show on June 1 because the venue is booked for a wedding!  Tickets and more details are available at http://www.againstthegraintheatre.com.  Be warned, opening night is already sold out and I expect the remaining nights will also sell ahead of time.  This is going to be a hot ticket.

Sorry about the iPhone photo.  Expect better ones in due course.