Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado is a story of romance, confusion and ridiculous humor.

That combination, mixed with elaborate sets and costumes, makes for what Peter Mulloy, artistic director for the Carl Rosa Opera Company, called "a really fun night out at the theater" in an e-mail.

The operetta, originally performed in 1885, tells the not-so-classic tale of a Japanese town tangled up in a mess of love and executions. England's Carl Rosa Opera Company will perform its historic recreation of this topsy-turvy tale at 7:30 tonight.

"This story has a lot to keep track of," Laura Sullivan, Center for the Performing Arts spokeswoman, said. "There are a lot of characters and changes, but although it's confusing at times, it's easy to see that it's still pretty funny."

Sullivan said The Mikado not only has comedic appeal, but also a very visual popularity.

"The quality of this performance is great," Sullivan said. "The artists and musicians are so talented, and the costumes and the sets are very elaborate, colorful and beautiful."

The costumes and sets the Carl Rosa Opera use are the same as those used in the movie Topsy-Turvy, the 1999 film based on the lives and work of Gilbert and Sullivan, which won an Academy Award in 2000 for best costume design and was nominated for best set decoration.

Mulloy said he thinks people in the United States have been very enthusiastic about The Mikado, and said he is delighted to be bringing the show here.

The work of Gilbert and Sullivan is interesting, with a unique sense of humor, said Jodi Fetterolf (junior-secondary education), a member of The Penn State Thespians, which performed another Gilbert and Sullivan classic, The Pirates of Penzance, in 2001.

"[The Mikado] is definitely not everyone's cup of tea," Fetterolf said. "It's so outdated and outlandish, and their work is obviously not intended to be for a serious show."

Sullivan said she thinks the light quality to the piece is exactly what makes it appealing.

"Operettas are very popular with a lot of people," Sullivan said. "And Gilbert and Sullivan are the masters of that form of theater. For someone who wants to experiment, who wants to get a sense of the opera without actually sitting through one, this is the perfect show. It's funny and it's a lighter operatic style, but you still get a sense of that rich theater experience."

Fetterolf said that Gilbert and Sullivan's humor, although bizarre and farcical, does have a strong entertainment value.

"For a few hours you can forget that today's society takes itself far too seriously, and you just laugh," Fetterolf said. "You don't leave the show feeling like a changed person, but you do leave with a smile."