The play "Back to Methuselah" by George Bernard Shaw unfolds a sweeping narrative that spans centuries, reflecting on the nature of life, death, and the potential of human evolution. Comprised of five acts, the play explores themes ranging from the origins of humanity in Eden to a distant future where the boundaries of life and thought are redefined. Each act delves deeply into philosophical musings, inviting audiences to ponder the possibilities of human growth and the eternal dance of life and death.

Act 1: In the Beginning

In the idyllic setting of Eden, Adam and Eve encounter the reality of death when they discover a lifeless fawn. This moment profoundly affects them, as they realize that death is an inescapable part of their own existence, contrasting sharply with the notion of eternal life, which Adam finds monotonous. The Serpent shares with Eve the secrets of birth, revealing that it offers a way to combat death. She recounts the tale of Lilith, who birthed Adam and Eve through self-sacrifice, underscoring that creation requires the union of two beings. Adam departs, leaving the Serpent to enlighten Eve about the profound mysteries of love and procreation.

Act 2: The Gospel of the Brothers Barnabas

Fast forward to the aftermath of World War I, where the brothers Barnabas explore their groundbreaking theory of Creative Evolution. They propose that for humanity to reach its full potential, people need to live for at least three centuries, as this extension would allow nature to refine the human spirit and imagination. Franklyn’s daughter and a young clergyman join the discussion, while their parlormaid amusingly contemplates the implications of such longevity on her decision to marry her fiancé. The brothers’ conversation takes a political turn with the arrival of two politicians, keen on leveraging this theory for electoral success, though they fail to grasp its true significance. Despite their superficial interest, the possibility that anyone might trigger this evolutionary leap sparks curiosity, though Haslam, one of the politicians, dismissively chuckles at the idea.

Act 3: The Thing Happens

By 2170, the British Islands are under the leadership of President Burge-Lubin, who is intrigued by a new underwater breathing system. However, the true governance is effectively managed by Confucius, a wise statesman. Amidst this political environment, Barnabas attends a screening revealing past officials who perished by drowning and learns that the current Archbishop of York is none other than Haslam. Despite appearing youthful at forty-five, Haslam discloses his age as 283, necessitating staged "deaths" to navigate bureaucratic complexities. Mrs. Lutestring, formerly the Barnabases’ parlormaid and now 275 years old, enters the scene. Together with Haslam, she contemplates the prospects of fostering a new generation of long-lived individuals, while others begin to embrace the brothers' evolutionary theory.

Act 4: Tragedy of an Elderly Gentleman

In the year 3000, an Elderly Gentleman visits the ancestral lands of Galway, accompanied by his son-in-law, the British prime minister, and General Aufsteig, a figure reminiscent of both Cain and Napoleon. A warning from a long-liver cautions him about the peril of discouragement that afflicts short-livers. His journey introduces him to Zoo, a spirited fifty-six-year-old who asserts the superiority of long-livers and suggests that short-livers, much like misbehaving children, should be eradicated. Leading him to the Oracle's temple, Zoo reveals the superficiality of the prime minister's consultations with the Oracle. General Aufsteig confronts the veiled Oracle, proclaiming himself the military genius of destiny yet seeking absolution from an endless cycle of warfare. The Oracle, advising death as a solution, attempts to shoot him but misses. Meanwhile, the British Envoy, seeking electoral guidance, receives the same cryptic...