It is 1955 in suburban Connecticut. The Laurel Players, a local theater community, are staging a rendition of The Petrified Forest. They have been rehearsing for months and have only been able to achieve one good rehearsal: the night before the first show. People from all over the community come to see the opening. The play begins well, with April Wheeler giving a stunning performance, but things deteriorate quickly. The leading man is sick, and so the director stands in for him, but he is no actor. Other actors miss cues and forget lines. Even April’s performance worsens. By intermission, it is clear the play is a failure, and when the second half ends mercifully quickly, a high-school boy steps up onto the stage and begins shutting down. The audience leaves feeling embarrassed.

Frank Wheeler goes to see April after the play ends. He finds her alone in the dressing room. He tries to be nonchalant, but April is in a bad mood and does not want to talk about the play. She asks Frank to cancel drinks with the Campbells, their best friends, which Frank reluctantly does.