All that is known of the play comes from a summary published in the brochure-programme of the Théâtre des Ombres Parisiennes (Theatre of Parisian Shadows) which Léon-Charles Marot presented at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. This performance “popularising the culture of Montmartre” (Paul Jeanne, Les Théâtres d'ombres à Montmartre de 1887 à 1923, s. l.: s.n.e., 1937, p. 89) was aimed at an American audience and gathered several productions, including two plays created by Henry Somm of the Chat-Noir cabaret—L’Eléphant (The Elephant) and La Potiche (The Trophy Wife)—Michel Utrillo’s La Conquête de la Lune (The Conquest of the Moon) and texts by Théodore Alexandre Steinlen. The final reference to the Chicago Fair suggests that Utrillo either wrote or rewrote the play for the occasion.

The Earth being in a near-apocalyptic state after several wars, the survivors seek universal reconciliation and want to create a world in which everyone will be happy, albeit identical and average. Pierrot arrives; the song he is singing about the Moon stirs up a desire for military conquest. When they land on the Moon, the Terriens (Earthlings) are so well received that they do not dare speak of their plan of conquering the Moon; instead, they forsake war once and for all. Mutual visits are planned: the Lunariens (a made-up word for “residents of the Moon”) will come to the next Chicago Fair.