Ian, a commercially successful stage director, mounts an avant-garde production of 'Othello' for the sole purpose of destroying Tyson, the actor who stole his fiancee Anne. Fanatic in his commitment to art and personal integrity, Tyson makes the mistake of accepting the coveted role in good faith at Anne's urging, only to find himself trapped in an escalating nightmare of absurdity, a nightmare that spins out of control and pushes even Ian to the breaking point.