Actor

Early one summer morning, Stanley Hastings receives an unexpected phone call from Herbert Drake, an old college acquaintance and now the producer of a summer stock theater in rural Connecticut. Herbie's problem: An actor has dropped dead of a heart attack - a last-minute replacement is needed for the leading role in George Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man. And even though he hasn't trod the boards in nearly twenty years, even though there are only two days of rehearsal before opening night, even though he knows nothing of Herbie's current associate, Stanley is bitten hard by the dreaded Acting Bug. Frantically trying to re-learn lines he hasn't spoken since his college production of the play, Stanley is charmed by Nellie Knight, the lovely young ingenue; infuriated by Avery Allington, the hammy soap-opera actor imported to give the show star appeal; and baffled by the diversity of the carnal and emotional intrigues that threaten to turn Arms and the Man into Peyton Place. And when the dress rehearsal is interrupted by murder, newcomer Stanley becomes the suspect of choice. The town police chief - an amateur actor himself - is delighted to let Stanley take over the detective work in an effort to clear himself of suspicion. But the amazing array of red herrings, and nearly everyone's cheerful assumption that Stanley is the killer, make his job as difficult as possible. Though not enough to prevent Stanley from leading his investigation to a knockout denouement in a scene that would make Mr. Shaw's beard curl - or elicit a standing ovation...