The Realm of Joy is set in the lobby of a theatre where a politically scandalous play, "The Realm of Joy" is being performed – a clear reference to Gilbert's play from the same year, The Happy Land (1873), which was still running on the first night of this piece.
Within the theatre lobby, "The Realm of Joy" is staged—a politically sensitive play that mirrors Gilbert's 1873 work, The Happy Land, which was also performing its opening night at the same time as this production.