Overview
Synopsis
The year is 1888 when Mary, Fanny, and Alex, three women who are each intrepid world explorers in their own right, band together to conquer Terra Incognita, the last and most mysterious of unexplored territories. As they bushwhack their way through jungles, brave treacherous ice sheets, and negotiate passage across a bottomless Gorge, the ladies reminisce about their past adventures and sort out their personality differences. They encounter a chameleonic cannibal, an adorable young Yeti, and a Troll demanding a toll…. as well as a number of mysterious artifacts: egg beaters, dirigibles, political campaign buttons, and newspaper clippings from the 1900s… On this one-way journey through space and time, each lady discovers her own unique destiny in the beautiful, loud, and brightly lit future. Eric Overmyer’s On the Verge, or, The Geography of Yearning is a romping meditation on the outer and inner frontiers of the human condition, full of lyrical and hilarious dialogue and imagery both beautiful and surreal. It requires a sense of whimsy and a strong ensemble cast.
Casting note: The playwright intends that the Featured characters of Grover, Alphonse, the Gorge Troll, the Yeti, Mr. Coffee, Madame Nhu, Gus, and Nicky Paradise should all be played by one versatile Male actor.
Show Information
- Book
- Eric Overmyer
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1985
- Genres
- Comedy, Fairy Tale/Fantasy
- Settings
- Period, Fantasy/Imaginary, Multiple Settings, Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- 1888, 1955, terra incognita, the tropics, the himalayas, nicky paradise bar and grill, an esso station
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- Broadway Play Publishing, Inc
- Ideal For
- professional / regional theatre, community theatre, college / university theatre, highschool theatre, small cast, strong ensemble, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
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Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
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|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
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|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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