In 1888, three experienced, 19th-century American women adventurers – armed with umbrellas, a picnic and pith helmets – set out to explore “Terra Incognito,” eagerly embracing cultures and replicas of distant civilizations (such as an eggbeater, which they deduce must be “a marsupial’s unicycle”). Caught in a time warp, they find themselves in Eisenhower‘s 1950s America, where they sample rock ’n’ roll and discover artifacts including “I like Ike” badges (and yet more eggbeaters!). The trio split when two decide to remain in 1955: Alexandra becomes an expert rock ‘n’ roller and Fanny falls in love with a cocktail-bar owner. Only Mary continues the journey of exploration, shedding her Victorian garb for a pair of trousers.
Eric Overmyer’s witty, surreal play has played to acclaim throughout the U.S., and was seen at the Lilian Bayliss Theatre, London, in 1989.