The play is set during the fair which gives it its name, taking place on St. Bartholomew's Day. On this August 24 in Smithfield, a more than fair degree of the most idiosyncratic of characters will be crossing paths. Foreshadowing the confusion to come, a state manager appears to be forced to address the audience with apologies for the delay in the performance getting underway. He then conspiratorially offers his own unique spin on what they will witness when the performance finally does begin: the play is no literary masterpiece which is not really surprising considering who wrote it. The manager interrupted by the prompter who proceeds to recite the long, complex and confusing contract that exists between the author and his audience, reminding the crowd that they are judged with reaching their own singular judgment of the merits and furthermore, there is no point in even trying to draw parallels between the characters on stage and any actual people they may be familiar with in the world of theater. What follows is far less dependent upon the specifics of any particular events and is more about humor derived parade of colorful character and quick changes of set and narrative. This collective effect of interplay arises out of two primary narrative strands: the pursuit by the holier-than-thou Puritan hypocrite Zeal-of-the-Land Busy of the hand of Dame Purecraft and the loss by Cokes of his betrothed Grace Wellborn to Winwife. Intricately knitted and knotted among these romances is the arrival of Justice Adam Overdo in disguise so that he wander about unrecognized so that he may arrive a fully detailed account of the Fair's "enormities." Along the way, Cokes will lose not only the woman was to marry, but his worldly possessions as well. Justice Overdo's attempt at undercover investigation has him winding up locked in the stocks. All of these amusing incidents-amusing to everyone except Puritans who took exception to their portrayal-leads to the final act which feature puppet show based on Marlowe's Hero and Leander and a debate between a puppet and Zeal-and-the-Land over issue of the morality of theater and play-acting. Finally, Justice Overdo comes to realize that his concern about the enormity of the wrongdoing going on at the fair was wildly misplaced.