Guests of the wealthy young Don Alberto De Simone, the ramshackle troupe of actors known as "L'eclettica," led by Gennaro De Sia, rehearse a new play in an attempt to redeem themselves after the fiascos of their previous performances. The "rehearsals" are interrupted by the arrival of Salvatore, brother of Viola, an actress who is expecting Gennaro's child and who wants to force the man to act like a gentleman and marry her.