Sumner Locke Elliott | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1917-10-17)17 October 1917 |
| Died | 24 June 1991(1991-06-24) (aged 73) |
| Occupations |
|
Sumner Locke Elliott (17 October 1917 – 24 June 1991) was an Australian (later American) novelist and playwright.
Elliott was born in Sydney to the writerSumner Locke and the journalist Henry Logan Elliott. His mother died ofeclampsia one day after his birth.[1] Elliott was raised by his aunts, who had a fierce custody battle over him, fictionalised in Elliott's autobiographical novel,Careful, He Might Hear You. Elliott was educated atCranbrook School in Bellevue Hill, Sydney.
Elliott became an actor and writer with theDoris Fitton'sThe Independent Theatre Ltd. He was drafted into theAustralian 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.[2]
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.[3]
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 asThe Philco Television Playhouse,Kraft Television Theatre,Studio One andPlayhouse 90. He also wrote a play,Buy Me Blue Ribbons, which had a short run on Broadway.[4]
In 1955, he obtained United States citizenship and did not return to Australia until 1974.[3] His TV playThe Grey Nurse Said Nothing aired on TV in the US and Australia.[5]
Elliott's best known novel,Careful, He Might Hear You, won the 1963Miles Franklin Award and was turned intoa film in 1983.
As a gay man during a time when this was socially disapproved of, Elliott was uncomfortable with his sexuality. He kept it secret until nearly the end of his life beforecoming out in his bookFairyland. Because of these fears, Elliott had affairs but never had any stable relationships.[6]
He died ofcolon cancer aged 73 inNew York City in 1991.
