UTAH OPERA, Fatal Song, Jeanné Wagner Theater, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Nov. 14; through Nov. 17, tickets at 801-355-2787, 888-451-2787 or www.utahopera.org

Eric Clapton sings “I Shot the Sheriff.” In Fatal Song, opera’s doomed divas don’t know who kills them night after night, or even why. They meet by chance in another dimension and discuss their fates while being manipulated by a fellow singer, a baritone masquerading as the devil, or vice versa. Whoever he is, his vibrant red shoes stand out. They’ll probably never catch on and become stylish, but they do make quite a fashion statement and make you notice him.

Playwright Kathleen Cahill tries to look at opera from as different perspective and occasionally succeeds in making it interesting. The jokes, though, are a bit contrived and the material is too thin to stretch out over 90 minutes.

It requires five singers with exceptional acting talents, and the cast assembled for this production have acting chops. Taking on several different roles in the show are sopranos Jennifer Welch-Babidge, Celena Shafer, Megan Cash and Amy Owens and mezzo-soprano Kirsten Gunlogson. Also in the cast are tenor Tyson Miller and baritone Christopher Clayton, the guy in the red shoes.

Accompanied by Utah Symphony principal pops conductor Jerry Steichen at the piano, they also sing a number of popular arias from several operas, including La Traviata, Die Zauberflöte and La Bohème.

Fatal Song isn’t high drama or even great theatre. But, it’s a cute piece of fluff and has its moments.