Back-stabbing friends, philandering spouses, copious amounts of alcohol and lots of singing and dancing. More than just another night out on the town, those are the winning ingredients for a classic opera, Johann Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus.”

Kitsap Opera Company stages three performances of “The Bat” Nov. 10, 12 and 18 at the Admiral Theatre in Bremerton.

The opera premiered in Vienna in 1874 and has been pleasing audiences ever since. Opera America claims it is the 19th most performed opera in North America.

The story is based on a German farce and a French vaudeville play, and was adapted by Strauss, the “Waltz King” to be set at a Viennese ball.

The gist of the plot is that Baron von Eisenstein, sung by baritone Ryan Francis, is on his way to jail when his friend, Dr. Falke, persuades him to attend a ball before beginning his sentence.

Meanwhile, his wife Rosalinde takes advantage of her husband’s departure to flirt with an admirer, Alfred, and is discovered by Frank, the governor of the prison who has come to take Eisenstein to jail. They end up going to the ball instead, as guests of the double-crossing Dr. Falke, who wants to see Eisenstein get in trouble.

It’s a masked ball, which lends itself to the ensuing scenes of mistaken identity and people behaving badly.

Rosalinde, sung by soprano Meg Daly, uses her disguise to test her husband’s fidelity at the festive event.

The plot twists and turns more than dancers in a quadrille, on the way to a happy ending. This is a comedy, after all.

Dr. Falke is sung by baritone Gregory Lewis. The maid, Adele, is sung by soprano Marie Birve, while Prince Orlofsky is sung by soprano Regina Thomas. Alfred is sung by tenor James M. Walters and Frank is sung by bass-baritone Friederich Schlott.

Rounding out the cast are Sara Reynolds, Ryan Taylor and Eric Wise. It is directed by Kitsap Opera director Leone Cottrell-Adkins, with stage management by Theresa V.M. Ballew and stage direction by Susan Anderson.

Sung in English, “Die Fledermaus” is fast, funny and suitable for all ages.

Once again Cottrell has assembled a solid cast of professional opera singers for the annual Kitsap Opera offering.

Francis has had an active performing career since making the move west from Idaho several years ago. He has performed with the Tacoma Opera, the Bellevue Opera, Puget Sound Opera and Opera Pacifica. He is also a Marine Corps Reserve and served a tour of duty in Iraq.

Daly earned a master’s degree in voice at the University of Washington School of Music. She said the highlight of her young career was when, as an understudy, she was called upon just before curtain to sing “Queen of the Night” at the Seattle Opera. She has sung with many vocal performance groups in the Puget Sound region and is currently the Pastoral Assistant for Music at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Gig Harbor.

Schlott, of Bremerton, has performed in several Kitsap Opera productions as well as local theater productions. He most recently played Don Quixote in the CSTOCK production of “Man of LaMancha.”

This is the second time Birve has sung the role of Adele, the first being with the Seattle Opera. She is from Norway but came to Seattle to continue her vocal studies.

“Die Fledermaus” will be performed 8 p.m. Nov. 10 and 18 and 3 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Admiral Theatre, 515 Pacific Ave., Bremerton. Tickets are $56 main floor dinner for Nov. 10 and 18 shows, $25 show only main floor all shows, $22 loge and $18 balcony. Tickets are available at the box office, or by phone at (360) 373-6743.