This farce revolves around the relationship of Forest and Philip and Forest's mother, Doris, the "Grand Duchess" of parties who from times past has earned a reputation of being the wildest party-animal-mom any couple would ever want to lay claim to. Still, this time her intention to visit is straight forward. Never mind her contracting with a hermaphrodite dance troupe, Nous nes sommes pas Lesbos, on her last visit. Or convincing one of Philip's friends that indeed he was a woman trapped inside a man's body and then going on to schedule an appointment with a surgeon.
Philip wanting to celebrate their 10th anniversary anyway, despite Forest's warning not to (knowing all to well the nature of his Mom), he plans "just a small party" and deludes himself into believing that he can control her craziness. His faith becomes shaken when Doris arrives with her footlocker labeled "Mother's Party Box", a artifact of her past party engagement. Doris on the other hand truly does have other plans with a gentleman she met on her last visit, the Dad of Maggie and Darlene.
Philip's plans and Doris' converge in a confused mish-mashed marriage ceremony leaving Philip totally frazzled, Forest bewildered, and their host of friends dumbfounded. All's well that ends well as Doris vows a new life to marry the man of her dreams and Forest and Philip renew their relationship among their friends.