The plot of "Thespis", with its elderly gods tired of their life in Olympus, is similar to some of Offenbach's operas, notably "Orphée aux Enfers" ("Orpheus in the Underworld"). In "Orphée", like "Thespis", classical mythology, particularly the Olympian gods, are ruthlessly parodied. In "Thespis", the gods swap places with actors and descend to Earth; in "Orphée", the gods head to hell for a pleasant holiday away from boring perfection. Offenbach's plot – for although Crémieux and Halévy wrote the libretto, the idea was Offenbach's – places Orpheus, the great musician, in the centre; however, Gilbert's plot focuses on Thespis, the Father of the Drama. While this may be a coincidence, it could also be seen as a response to Offenbach, as his plot places music at the centre of his operetta, but Gilbert's elevates the dramatist.