David Kolowitz a nice young man living with his parents in New York City in 1938 works at a machine repair shop. His parents want David to study to become a pharmacist. But what he really wants is to be an actor like his idol Ronald Colman. One day at his friend Marvin's suggestion David tries out for a part in a play and gets it despite his obvious lack of acting experience (not to mention ability). True it's a rather small part in a low-rent production. Leading the troupe is a washed-up alcoholic actor who hires David at the urging of his actress-daughter who finds David "cute." To play his part David must come up with his own costume - a tuxedo - and pay the house five dollars a week ostensibly for tuition. But it is David's first acting job one which calls for him to "enter laughing." And if it doesn't work out - well there's always pharmacy school.