Act 1, Part 1 Summary

This stylistically and interpretively challenging play doesn't so much tell a story as explore the experience of being human. By placing theatrical and narrative innovation alongside more traditional explorations of the human condition, the play makes the (possibly ironic) thematic point that life's challenges and questions can all be resolved by sticking together as a family, be it the biological family or the universal family of humankind.

The play begins with an announcement over the theatre loudspeaker announcing how, immediately upon seeing the sunrise, a society proclaiming the end of the world postpones the arrival of that event for another twenty-four hours. The announcement also reveals that it's the middle of August, and that a wall of ice is moving into America. Finally, the announcement informs the audience that a wedding ring has been found, inscribed "From Eva to Adam" and...