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'''The Pirates of Penzance''', or "the Slave of Duty", is one of the most enduringly popular of [[Gilbert and Sullivan]]'s many comic operas.  It is known for its many memorable songs, its witty dialog and lyrics, its clever plot, and its caricatures.

'''The Pirates of Penzance''', or "the Slave of Duty", is one of the most enduringly popular of [[Gilbert and Sullivan]]'s many comic operas.  It is known for its many memorable songs, its witty dialog and lyrics, its clever plot, and its caricatures.

In conics I can floor pecularities parabolous.}}

In conics I can floor pecularities parabolous.}}

[[image:Pirates of Penzance.jpg|thumb|left|An 1890 poster for the light opera, portraying the Major-General.]]The latter is perhaps the best known of Gilbert and Sullivan's "patter songs" -- songs with extremely rapid-fire delivery of nonsensical lyrics.  It has been adapted and parodied many times, most notably in [[Tom Lehrer]]'s song "The Elements".

The latter is perhaps the best known of Gilbert and Sullivan's "patter songs" -- songs with extremely rapid-fire delivery of nonsensical lyrics.  It has been adapted and parodied many times, most notably in [[Tom Lehrer]]'s song "The Elements".

Gilbert and Sullivan's characters were often portrayed in exaggerated and outlandish ways, as in the officiousness of Joseph Porter in H.M.S. Pinafore, or the hubris of Pooh-Bah in The Mikado. Pirates of Penzance is no exception:  Frederic, the central character, is fanatically devoted to what he sees as his "sense of duty", carrying it to ridiculous extremes.  Also, the band of pirates are actually very moral people who have taken up comical piracy as a form of social protest.  They are really very soft-hearted, and burst into tears at the mention of orphans.

Gilbert and Sullivan's characters were often portrayed in exaggerated and outlandish ways, as in the officiousness of Joseph Porter in H.M.S. Pinafore, or the hubris of Pooh-Bah in The Mikado. Pirates of Penzance is no exception:  Frederic, the central character, is fanatically devoted to what he sees as his "sense of duty", carrying it to ridiculous extremes.  Also, the band of pirates are actually very moral people who have taken up comical piracy as a form of social protest.  They are really very soft-hearted, and burst into tears at the mention of orphans.