I can't place characters or get menus or rotate the view (Mac)

Rotating requires a drag on the right mouse button.
Bringing up menus (such as for placing a character) requires a click on the right mouse button.
If you are using a mouse, you may need to set up the right mouse button as button two. There are instructions here: http://gigaom.com/apple/mac-101-enable-right-click-on-macs/
If you are using a track pad, you need to do a click action with both fingers, then lift one off the pad, and drag with the other.