The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan time to take a triumphant curtain call before the enthusiastic crowd. Nevertheless, Sullivan is unhappy writing comic opera. When Gilbert proposes a new piece involving the device of a magic lozenge, Sullivan objects that he wants to devote himself to serious music. Sullivan's friend, critic Joseph Bennett, writes a libretto for a cantata based on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "The Golden Legend". Meanwhile, Gilbert, inspired by the sight of a Japanese sword hanging in his study, proposes a new plot, and Sullivan begins work. When Bennett goes to see Sullivan, he finds that "The Mikado" is being rehearsed instead of his
National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company "Daily Mail" gave the company five stars. "The Northern Echo" reviewed the 2015 tour, stating: "This company is so polished, so well-versed in the eccentricities of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, with excellent singing voices coupled with clear diction ... and comedic skill. ... [A] tuneful, jolly, laugh-out-loud evening’s entertainment. "The Manchester Evening News" gave the company four out of five stars, admiring its musical and comic polish, dancing and "magnificent" chorus. In 2017, a reviewer praised the principals and chorus of the company's "Mikado" production, commenting: "This is giggle-making, girth-busting comic opera at it's very best. Sensational singing with sumptuous