Edgar and his schoolmates put on a production of Shakespeare's Hamlet such as the townsfolk have never seen.

Young rapscallion Penrod Schofield causes a good deal of trouble in his community, all in the name of protecting kids from too-strict parents and nasty neighbors. He heads the ABPA (American Boys' Protective Association) and through it disrupts a number of local social events. The townspeople are pretty fed up with Penrod and his gang, but when a couple of outlaws come to town, Penrod shows his mettle.

When an itinerant performing troupe that specializes in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” return to the owner and her son’s hometown for a show the younger brother Roy is nervous and unhappy because he plays Little Eva in the play. Sure that his sweetheart and her family will jeer along with the rest of the town he stumbles during the performance wrecking the set and bringing the show to a grinding halt. All is well though when the town’s hotel proprietor throws a big dinner for the troupe.