I was very excited to find out about a series that Opera Boston produces called “Opera Underground” from Facebook last week.  Just this past Tuesday, I attended their sold-out production of Leonard Bernstein’s 1952 one act opera, Trouble in Tahiti, with my friend Kim at Berklee’s Cafe 939.

“Opera Underground” is a series that brings opera to the people by making it a casual experience and performing in small, but intimate venues, and for short money – a concept that greatly appeals to me.  While getting dressed up to go out for a night at the opera can be fun, with my entertainment budget, it’s not something I can afford to do often.  As much as I love opera, this gives me the chance to see one staged live with great singers for a bargain while wearing my jeans.  The only thing that could have made it better is if Cafe 939 served martinis to go along with Bernstein’s fabulous period piece.

Boston Opera started the series in 2007 at the Lounge Lizard in Cambridge in conjunction with Boston Modern Orchestra Project’s Gil Rose with an evening of Kurt Weill.  Since then they have presented music by Mozart, Foss, Sondheim, and now Bernstein.  Trouble in Tahiti fits Opera Underground’s mission statement perfectly because it is only about an hour in length, features a small cast, and requires minimal staging, costumes, and sets.

The performance on Tuesday was really enjoyable.  Glorivy Arroya, a classmate of mine from New England Conservatory, played a great Dinah and brought quite a bit of pathos to the role.  A cocky and brash Sam was played by Graham Wright.  The chorus: Ishan Johnson, Nicole Rodin, and Korland Simmons sang in tight three-part harmony the whole evening providing witty and sometimes hilarious commentary as well as much needed relief from the heavy plot evolving between Sam and Dinah.

I will be sure to seek out more Opera Underground productions.  I can’t think of a better way to spend a Tuesday evening for less than the price of seeing a movie.  The potential seems to be there with a pool of talented singers who want stage time and a body of concert-goes hungry for more opera in Boston.  Maybe I’ll see you at the next production.