The play is set in
the study of the mercurial and explosive adventurer, Professor Challenger—the
outrageous protagonist of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World, 1912, (and other gripping tales of the
inexplicable such as The Poison Belt and The Land of Mist).
When the play
opens, Professor Challenger is standing before the vigorous fire, blazing in
his fireplace, and is in deep, annoyed discussion with writer Percival
Crestfall, whom Challenger had invited to go along on his upcoming trek into
danger.
CHALLENGER (thundering at his guest): So you won’t accompany me?!!
CRESTFALL (defensively): Up the Amazon in search of giant prehistoric creatures that
ought to have died off millions of years ago? No, sir, I won’t!!
CHALLENGER (impatient): But aren’t you curious to actually gaze upon creatures which were supposed
to be Jurassic in the living flesh—prodigious monsters that would swallow our
largest and fiercest animals for afternoon tea?
CRESTFALL (abashed): In all honesty, Professor, no, I’m not that curious. I say let sleeping dinosaurs—if dinosaurs they be—lie.
CHALLENGER (horrified): Where’s your backbone,
sir!!??
CRESTFALL (managing a weak smile): It has evolved away, Professor Challenger—over these past five
minutes.
(curtain)
