The Pirates of Penzance, or The Slave of Duty is a comic opera written by W.S. Gilbert and composed by Arthur Sullivan. The story follows Frederic, a young man apprenticed to a band of pirates, who discovers he was born on February 29th, meaning his 21st birthday only occurs every four years. Due to his apprenticeship's strict terms, he must remain a pirate for another 63 years. This discovery throws Frederic into a series of comical predicaments as he navigates his sense of duty, his burgeoning love for the lovely Mabel, and the antics of the pirates and the Major-General's family. Gilbert's witty libretto and Sullivan's charming music blend to create a timeless classic of operatic satire.