Sumner Locke Elliott
Encyclopedia
Sumner Locke Elliott was an Australia
n (later American
) novel
ist.
to the writer Helena Sumner Locke (1881–1917) and the journalist Henry Logan Elliott. His mother died of eclampsia
one day after his birth. Elliott was raised by his aunts, who had a fierce custody battle over him, fictionalized in Elliott's autobiographical novel, Careful, He Might Hear You
.
's Independent Theatre
. He was drafted into the Australian Army
in 1942, but instead of being posted overseas, he worked as a clerk in Australia. He used these experiences as the inspiration for his controversial play, Rusty Bugles
. The play toured extensively throughout Australia and achieved the notoriety of being closed down for obscenity by the Chief Secretary's Office.
However, Rusty Bugles place in the history of Australian theatre rests on more than notoriety. Mac is a memorable character in the play, and in the first production, Frank O'Donnell
transformed audiences' understanding of the typical Australian 'bludger' or 'scrounger'. To the men in his unit, he appeared a winner even when he was losing, but with the discovery of his wife's infidelity, his fragility becomes apparent.
, Studio One and Playhouse 90
. He also wrote a play Buy Me Blue Ribbons, which had a short run on Broadway.
In 1955, he obtained United States citizenship and did not return to Australia until 1974.
, won the 1963 Miles Franklin Award
and was turned into a film
in 1983.
in his book Fairyland. Because of these fears, Elliott had affairs but never had any stable relationships.
He died of colon cancer in New York in 1991.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n (later American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist.
Biography
Elliott was born in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
to the writer Helena Sumner Locke (1881–1917) and the journalist Henry Logan Elliott. His mother died of eclampsia
Eclampsia
Eclampsia , an acute and life-threatening complication of pregnancy, is characterized by the appearance of tonic-clonic seizures, usually in a patient who had developed pre-eclampsia...
one day after his birth. Elliott was raised by his aunts, who had a fierce custody battle over him, fictionalized in Elliott's autobiographical novel, Careful, He Might Hear You
Careful, He Might Hear You (novel)
Careful, He Might Hear You is a Miles Franklin Award winning novel by Australian author Sumner Locke Elliott. It was published in 1963.The 1983 film Careful, He Might Hear You was based on the novel.-References:...
.
World War II
Elliott became an actor and writer with the Doris FittonDoris Fitton
Doris Alice Fitton Mason, DBE was an Australian actress and theatrical director who founded and for 35 years headed Sydney's Independent Theatre, staging a diverse range of local and international dramas, many for the first time in Australia, including Sumner Locke-Elliott's wartime comedy, Rusty...
's Independent Theatre
Independent Theatre
The Independent Theatre was a dramatic society founded in 1930 by Doris Fitton , and was also the name given to the building it occupied from 1938. It was named for London's Independent Theatre Society founded by J. T...
. He was drafted into the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
in 1942, but instead of being posted overseas, he worked as a clerk in Australia. He used these experiences as the inspiration for his controversial play, Rusty Bugles
Rusty Bugles
Rusty Bugles was a controversial Australian play written by Sumner Locke Elliott that toured extensively throughout Australia between 1948–1949 and achieved the notoriety of being closed down by the Chief Secretary's Office for obscenity....
. The play toured extensively throughout Australia and achieved the notoriety of being closed down for obscenity by the Chief Secretary's Office.
However, Rusty Bugles place in the history of Australian theatre rests on more than notoriety. Mac is a memorable character in the play, and in the first production, Frank O'Donnell
Frank O'Donnell
Francis Joseph "Frank" O'Donnell was a Scottish professional footballer. He was the older brother of fellow footballer Hugh O'Donnell. The siblings stayed together for the first sixteen years of their careers, both playing concurrently for Celtic, Preston North End and Blackpool...
transformed audiences' understanding of the typical Australian 'bludger' or 'scrounger'. To the men in his unit, he appeared a winner even when he was losing, but with the discovery of his wife's infidelity, his fragility becomes apparent.
Television
Elliott moved to the United States in 1948, where he ranked in the pantheon of leading playwrights during the Golden Age of live television dramas, writing more than 30 original plays and numerous adaptations for such shows as Kraft Television TheatreKraft Television Theatre
Kraft Television Theatre is an American drama/anthology television series that began May 7, 1947 on NBC, airing at 7:30pm on Wednesday evenings until December of that year. In January 1948, it moved to 9pm on Wednesdays, continuing in that timeslot until 1958. Initially produced by the J...
, Studio One and Playhouse 90
Playhouse 90
Playhouse 90 is an American television anthology series that was telecast on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. It originated from CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California...
. He also wrote a play Buy Me Blue Ribbons, which had a short run on Broadway.
In 1955, he obtained United States citizenship and did not return to Australia until 1974.
Books
Elliott's best known novel, Careful, He Might Hear YouCareful, He Might Hear You (novel)
Careful, He Might Hear You is a Miles Franklin Award winning novel by Australian author Sumner Locke Elliott. It was published in 1963.The 1983 film Careful, He Might Hear You was based on the novel.-References:...
, won the 1963 Miles Franklin Award
Miles Franklin Award
The Miles Franklin Literary Award is an annual literary prize for the best Australian ‘published novel or play portraying Australian life in any of its phases’. The award was set up according to the will of Miles Franklin , who is best known for writing the Australian classic My Brilliant Career ...
and was turned into a film
Careful, He Might Hear You
Careful, He Might Hear You is a 1983 Australian drama film. It is based on the novel of the same name by Australian-American author Sumner Locke Elliott....
in 1983.
Private life
As a gay man during a time when this was socially problematic, Elliott was uncomfortable with his sexuality. He kept it secret until nearly the end of his life before coming outComing out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
in his book Fairyland. Because of these fears, Elliott had affairs but never had any stable relationships.
He died of colon cancer in New York in 1991.
External links
- Obituary, The New York Times, June 26, 1991
- Sumner Lock Elliott Australian theatre credits at AusstageAusstageAusStage is an online database which records information about live performances in Australia. It provides records of productions from the beginnings of theatre in Australia up to today...