Welcome to the 17th century stage, where Ned Kynaston's performace of Desdemona in Shakespeare's 'Othello' brings the house down nightly. Ned is the "most beautiful woman on the London stage". That is, until the King renounces the royal edict that only men can play women on stage. Enter Maria, Ned's seemingly loyal dresser, who becomes an instant star, leaving Ned to suppress his ardent feminine traits and make a man of himself.