CAMBRIDGE, N.Y. -- The Hubbard Hall Opera Theater will play host to the Boston-based company Guerilla Opera’s production of "Heart of a Dog," loosely-based on the novella by Mikhail Bulgakov, music and libretto by Rudolf Rojahn, and directed by Copeland Woodruff, with performances Sept. 28-30.

The production runs about 40 minutes and is sung in English.

"I’d long been a fan of Bulgakov’s fiction so when I began thinking about writing a short opera in 2007, ‘Heart of a Dog’ seemed like it could be a perfect fit," Rojahn said in supplied material. "The piece came out in a creative rage of less than two months and when I listen to it now, three years later, I can hear the raw and crunchy sonoric exuberance of a younger version of myself. I wanted to tear down the performance space with massive walls of sound while four tragic puppets acted out their black comedy."

The plot is as deep and layered as the music, according to supplied material, which states: Listen to the alluring banter of a belligerent carnival barker as he navigates you through a twisted carnival sideshow where the main attraction is a unique performance by a bizarre troupe of actors. Utilizing an arsenal of bunraku puppets the troupe tells a dark tale of a scientist’s overly successful experiment of implanting human glands into the body of a stray dog. But the grandeur of the scientific achievement is overshadowed by the misery of living with the half-dog/half-woman whose varied appetites and manipulations prove disastrous for all.

Two things to be aware of: The production contains some adult content and use of strobe lights; also the audience is advised to wear comfortable footwear as audience members will be standing, and walking frequently, during the performances. There are no audience seats available. This opera accommodates a limited number of people so advanced reservations are strongly suggested.

Guerilla Opera and the ‘Heart of a Dog’ creative team will conduct talk-backs immediately following each performance. Hubbard Hall is located at 25 E. Main St. Tickets are "pay what you will" with a minimum of $15. Performances Friday and Saturday, Sept. 28-29, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. For reservations, tickets and information call 518-677-2495 or visit hubbardhall.org