Cox and Box tells of the complications which arise from the action of an unscrupulous lodging house-keeper, one Sergeant Bouncer, who obtains double rent for one of his rooms by letting it to two tenants simultaneously, for one of them is away at work each night, and the other each day. An unexpected holiday granted to the day-worker brings him back to his lodgings during the daytime, and he finds his co-tenant in occupation. Troubles ensue, but in true comic opera fashion, everything is sorted out by the final curtain.

In 1867 - some years before the first collaboration between Gilbert and Sullivan - F. C. Burnand thought of turning Maddison Morion's farce, Box and Cox, into a musical piece. Burnand reversed the title and made the landlady into Sergeant Bouncer so that a military flavour might be introduced. A chance meeting between Burnand and Sullivan led to the latter composing his first music for the stage, and Cox and Box was successfully produced and accorded an enthusiastic reception.