The Drowsy Chaperone is a musical farce that parodies 1920s American musical comedy and pays homage to Jazz Age musicals. The show is about a middle-aged musical theater fan who listens to a recording of the fictional 1928 musical The Drowsy Chaperone while feeling sad. As the record plays, the musical comes to life in his apartment, transforming it into a Broadway set with glittering costumes, painted backdrops, and seashell footlights. The fan, known as the Man in Chair, wryly comments on the music, actors, and story as he's transported into the musical. The show is full of cliches, gags, and gimmicks from the golden age of musicals.