doollee banner
The Playwrights Database
contact doollee


Sumner Locke Elliott

SUMNER LOCKE ELLIOTT  (1917 - 1991)

 Nationality:    Australian
email:    n/a     Website:    n/a

Literary Agent:    n/a


Sumner Locke Elliott was born on October 17th 1917 - his parents were Henry Logan Elliott and Helena Sumner Locke. The day after his birth his mother died and he was brought up by aunts. There was a huge custody battle over him which he later fictionalised in the book "Careful, He May Hear You". Sumner became an actor and writer for The Independent Theatre, Sydney. In 1943 he was called up but was not sent overseas to fight. He had a clerking job and remained in Australia. He wrote the play "Rusty Bugles" about his experiences. The play was closed because the authorities deemed it obscene. The theatre at first ignored the ban but then agreed to rewrite the offending passages - the bad language of the soldiers. As the run extended and it went to other Australian States the offending words gradually returned to the play - with no consequences from the authorities. In 1948 he went to the U.S. to work in television. He became an American citizen in 1955. Sumner Locke Elliott was a gay man and he had great difficulties accepting his homosexuality. He had lots of casual relationships and because of the time he was living in kept this quiet. He came out near the end of his life in 1990 in the book "Fairyland". He died from cancer of the colon on 24th June 1991

Buy Plays with Doollee

Each page of doollee.com has links to play/book outlets, either directly to the Publisher, through Stageplays.com and Amazon to the second hand and 1st editions of AbeBooks. These links will automatically take you to the relevant area obviating the need for further search.
AbeBooks.co.uk   AbeBooks.com   Stageplays.com   amazon.com   amazon.co.uk   amazon.ca
whether you are a Playwright who wishes to make their entry definitive, an unlisted Playwright or a User with a tale to tell - we want to hear from you.
download WORD submission template

below is a list of Sumner Locke Elliott's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

 Bleak Wilderness         Buy Me Blue Ribbons         Cafe On The Corner         Charlotte Russe         Cow Jumped Over The Moon, The         Doctor's Debtors, The         Doss House         Folly Of It, The         Glorious Noon         Hollywood Would         Interval         Invisible Circus         Little Sheep Run Fast, The         Overture To Oblivion         Ring Out Wild Bells         Rusty Bugles         Spotlight On Joanna         Storm, The         Tram Stop 10!         Your Obedient Servant

Bleak Wilderness

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    1935

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Buy Me Blue Ribbons

Synopsis:
Jordan Sable, at 18, is a forgotten child movie idol, attempting a comeback via the stage. against the advice of his agent and friend, Liz Kendall, he buys a swashbuckling verse play about pirates in which he plans to star on Broadway, hires a top producer and a female star and embarks on a colossal publicity campaign to launch himself in the play. He is abetted in this by Daisy, his mother, an overwhelming and dizzy woman who was once a Ziegfeld girl. His father, a hosiery tycoon, has always opposed Jordan's career, and the parents have divorced over this disagreement. During a hilarious rehearsal scene, Jordan is found totally inadequate as the pirate chief and is forced out of his own production, his hated rival replacing him and scoring a hit, which leads to a Hollywood contract. Jordan, penitent and defeated, vows he will retire forever, but Liz talks him into starting again, at the bottom, and he accepts a small bit in a revival of Hamlet," having learned his lesson that one cannot "buy" success.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Empire Theatre, New York    17 Oct 1951

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Dramatists Play Service, NY,    -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  6            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Cafe On The Corner

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Independent Theatre, North Sydney    19 Feb 1935

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Charlotte Russe

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Independent Theatre, North Sydney    07 Mar 1938

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Cow Jumped Over The Moon, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Independent Theatre, North Sydney    30 Oct 1937

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Doctor's Debtors, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Aeolian Hall, Sydney    11 Jun 1932

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Childrens play

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Doss House

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Emerson Hall, Sydney    14 Jul 1934

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Folly Of It, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
Written by Sumner Locke Elliott and W Grenville Spencer

1st Produced:
Independent Theatre, North Sydney    17 Dec 1938

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Glorious Noon

Synopsis:
A brother and sister plan to runaway to London to escape their possessive mother

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Little Theatre, Sydney    31 May 1939

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Hollywood Would

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Independent Theatre, North Sydney    23 Oct 1936

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Short play

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Interval

Sumner Locke Elliott
How success corrupts acting careers

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Independent Theatre, North Sydney    01 Apr 1939

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Melbourne University Press 1947   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Invisible Circus

Synopsis:
Life on a commercial radio station

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Independent Theatre, North Sydney    30 May 1946

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Little Sheep Run Fast, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Independent Theatre, North Sydney    18 May 1940

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Overture To Oblivion

Synopsis:
Is there still awareness in a person after death?

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Emerson Hall, Sydney    19 Nov 1934

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Ring Out Wild Bells

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Independent Theatre, North Sydney    07 May 1938

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Rusty Bugles

Synopsis:
Soldiers in an isolated ordnance depot

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Kings Theatre, Melbourne    1938

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Currency Press 1980   978-0868190303

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
2 act 90 mins Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  17            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Spotlight On Joanna

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Independent Theatre, North Sydney    24 Apr 1937

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Storm, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Emerson Hall, Sydney    26 Aug 1933

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Tram Stop 10!

Synopsis:
Christmas revue, Australilan in content but with some overseas material.

Notes:
written by Reginald Bickwith, Bryan Edward, Ray Lawler, Sumner Locke Elliott and Geoffrey Underhill

1st Produced:
Union Theatre, Parkville, VIC    21 Dec 1954

Organisations:
Union Theatre Repertory Company

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
revue

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  6            Other:  -

Further Reference:
http://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/event/76442

Top of Page Top of Page

Your Obedient Servant

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Independent Theatre, North Sydney    03 Dec 1943

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page