Carl is a New York actor who has trouble making up his own mind about anything. Bullied by his demanding father, who pays his rent, Carl is a prisoner of other people's opinions. As the play opens, Carl is in rehearsal for a new musical revue, which also features his best friend, Harry, and Harry's girlfriend, Michelle. Partially to spite Harry, who refuses to admit that he is capable of jealousy, Michelle proposes to Carl that they go to bed together. Confused by Harry's seeming indifference, Carl agrees. Beset by frantic late night phone calls from his neurotic father and besieged by his nosy neighbor, Mrs. Mingelone, Carl cannot go through with it. Meanwhile, it becomes increasingly clear to everyone involved in the new musical that the lyrics are truly dreadful - everyone, that is, except the lyricist, Steve Karp, whose ego is as big as his talent is small. The show and the character's relationships seem headed for disaster in this satirical look at life backstage in the New York theatre scene.