Joe Harper is a struggling actor who's been recently rejected by both his girlfriend and by Hollywood producer Nancy Crawford. Only his agent, Margaretta D'Arcy, still believes in him. Just. Which is more than Joe can say for himself. Taking his last stand against outrageous fortune, Joe decides to direct a production of "Hamlet" over the forthcoming Christmas holidays. He will finance it with the last of his savings (and a loan from Margaretta) and will play the Danish prince himself. Without much room to maneuver, he signs up a cast of six--grumpy Henry Wakefield, self-absorbed Tom Newman, eccentric Carnforth Greville, cocky Vernon Spatch, campy Terry du Bois and scatty Nina Raymond--to play the twenty-four roles in Shakespeare's greatest play. Joe transports them to the village of Hope where "Hamlet" will be mounted in a church which is threatened by developers. By bringing theater to the community, Joe hopes to prove the church's usefulness and save more than his own uphappy soul.