Don't like opera? No problem.

"Viva La Mamma," the latest Skylight Opera Theatre production, easily could be dubbed "the anti-opera." Poking fun at every aspect of opera and stocked with colorful characters who are over-the-top opera stereotypes, "Viva la Mamma" is accessible, digestible and enjoyable for even the most ardent opera unenthusiasts.

But if you love the opera, and have been to numerous Skylight performances, you're in for a real treat, too. Most of the props on stage are from previous Skylight productions, including the barber's chair from "Sweeney Todd," the girl-in-a-glass bar sign from "Don Giovanni" and the photo of Ray Jivoff as Sir Joseph Porter from "H.M.S. Pinafore."

Written in 1827 by Gaetano Donizetti, "Mamma" could be considered the precursor to "Viktor Viktoria." Most of this updated opera-within-an-opera takes place in the Skylight while an over-dramatic, hack composer (Ted Christopher) attempts to rehearse his ridiculous tragedy, "Romulus and Ersilia."

When the airheaded second soprano (Katherine Pracht) feels ousted from the limelight by a high-maintenance prima donna, she asks her "mamma" to help her score a larger role. "Mamma Agatha" is no less woman than baritone John Muriello in drag, who lights up the stage like a one-man Fire Island.

Animated and hilarious, Muriello is so strong, both in his acting and singing, that he clearly outshines the rest of the cast, many of whom are also quite good.

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To truly enjoy this production one must posses a penchant for a campy, over-the-top, ever-a-rubber-chicken kind of performance. The Milwaukee adaptation is also stocked with loads of local jokes, from the mayor's media-blitzed romance to our unexplainable love of the bratwurst.

Yes, this show is extremely silly, with a near-nude chorus boy cartwheeling across the stage and such intentionally awful choreography that it will remind you of grade school square dancing in gym class, but the singing once again showcases the incredible talents this city -- specifically the Skylight -- has to offer.

"Viva La Mamma" runs through Sun., Feb. 16 at the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway. Call (414) 291-7800 for more information.