The Invisible Circus is a 1946 Australian stage play by Sumner Locke Elliott set in the world of commercial radio drama, a field that Elliott knew well from many years writing for George Edwards. Elliott is represented in two characters, the idealistic Brad and the more jaded Mark.[1]
Bradley McGee Mona Natwick Speed Bette Lottie Faircourte Freda Chase Iris Mitchell Percy Kimlock Mark Cornell Courtney Skipton Henry Melville Bernard Freer Mrs. Goll J. B. Oliphant Mr. Bullerton Madam Napotelli Sinclair Bullerton JB Olliphant
A production by John Carlson ran for six weeks at the Independent Theatre, Sydney in 1946.[2] and in Melbourne later that year by the Little Theatre produced by Irene Mitchell starring Frank Thring.[3] The play was also produced in Adelaide.[4]
Receptionedit
The Sydney Morning Herald drama critic felt the plays' "strength is dialogue, its weakness construction."[5]
The Bulletin felt it was "quick-moving and entertaining" although "A fault was the American-style smart retorts, which have become such an ordeal to the average picture-goer. Hollywood’s newspaper or business comedies always have some disillusioned, hard-faced female (frequently with a heart of gold) ready and waiting to fire her synthesised comments on Man and the world. And so it was in “The Invisible Circus” ; the same situations, the same openings, and click, like a well-oiled machine, the dis-illusioned damsel delivers the wisecracks in a tired, disillusioned voice."[6]
The Argus called it "bright and pungent entertainment."[7]
Leslie Rees thought the play "marked a great advance in originality" for Elliott's work, saying "Eschewing mawkish emotional situations, Locke-Elliott gave three acts of diverting farce-comedy." He added:
Invisible Circus had an opening not as sharp as it should have been; also it was reminiscent of the American Boy Meets Girl. As the play went on, it appeared to be as devoid of strong plot as had been Afford’s Mischief in the Air. But it was by the very means of not involving himself with complicated events that Sumner Locke-Elliott was able to release his gift for gay, extravagant, spontaneously gossipy but pointed dialogue. The second act was the best of it. The story conference, in which a new and idealistic script-writer’s opus was subjected to “office improvement’’, was extraordinarily funny. The rehearsal scene was good knockabout.[8]
Premiseedit
A young and idealistic scriptwriter, Brad McGee, is introduced to commercial radio. Among the characters he meets there are the receptionist, Mona; a gag writer, Percy; a grand actress, the Duchess; another actress, Fred.
The more jaded Mark Cornell winds up leaving radio.
Radio Adaptationedit
The play was adapted for radio by George Farwell in a production that aired in December 1946. The cast included Peter Finch and Elliott himself.[9]
The ABC produced the play for radio again in 1951 (directed by Doris Fitton)[10] and 1956.[11]
Referencesedit
^Clarke, Sharon (1995). Sumner Locke Elliott: writing life. University of Woollongong. p. 289.
^"Young Playwright Visits North". The Cairns Post. Qld: National Library of Australia. 20 September 1946. p. 5. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
^"Sydney Playwright's Satire on Radio People". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 31, 304. Victoria, Australia. 30 December 1946. p. 10. Retrieved 17 October 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Repertory To Produce "Invisible Circus"". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. 89, no. 27415. South Australia. 17 August 1946. p. 7. Retrieved 6 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Play's Premiere At Independent". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 3 June 1946. p. 5. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
^"Satire on Radio", The Bulletin, Sydney, N.S.W: John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 67 (3460), 5 Jun 1946, nla.obj-550178509, retrieved 6 September 2023 – via Trove
^"SYDNEY PLAYWRIGHT'S SATIRE ON RADIO PEOPLE". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 31, 304. Victoria, Australia. 30 December 1946. p. 10. Retrieved 6 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^Rees, Leslie (1987). Australian drama, 1970-1985 : a historical and critical survey. Angus & Robertson. p. 177. ISBN978-0-207-15354-9.
^"You Will Laugh and Laugh at Invisible Circus Witty satire on broadcasting", ABC Weekly, Sydney, 8 (48), 14 December 1946, retrieved 27 August 2023 – via Trove
^"Radio plays for next week", ABC Weekly, Sydney, 13 (50), 15 December 1951, retrieved 6 September 2023 – via Trove
^"Radio plays for next week", ABC Weekly, Sydney, 18 (42), 20 October 1956, retrieved 6 September 2023 – via Trove
Notesedit
Pender, Anne (2016). "Theatre Animals: Sumner Locke Elliott's Invisible Circus". Australasian Drama Studies. La Trobe University (68): 54–74. hdl:1959.11/19464.
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The Invisible Circus is a 1946 Australian stage play by Sumner Locke Elliott set in the world of commercial radio drama a field that Elliott knew well from many years writing for George Edwards Elliott is represented in two characters the idealistic Brad and the more jaded Mark 1 The Invisible CircusIl Risveglio 5 Jun 1946Written bySumner Locke ElliottCharactersBradley McGeeMona NatwickSpeedBetteLottie FaircourteFreda ChaseIris MitchellPercy KimlockMark CornellCourtney SkiptonHenry MelvilleBernard FreerMrs GollJ B OliphantMr BullertonMadam NapotelliSinclair BullertonJB OlliphantDate premieredMay 1946Place premieredIndependent Theatre SydneyOriginal languageEnglishSubjectcommercial radioGenrecomedy farceSettingA commercial radio station Contents 1 Production history 2 Reception 3 Premise 4 Radio Adaptation 5 References 6 Notes 7 External linksProduction history editA production by John Carlson ran for six weeks at the Independent Theatre Sydney in 1946 2 and in Melbourne later that year by the Little Theatre produced by Irene Mitchell starring Frank Thring 3 The play was also produced in Adelaide 4 Reception editThe Sydney Morning Herald drama critic felt the plays strength is dialogue its weakness construction 5 The Bulletin felt it was quick moving and entertaining although A fault was the American style smart retorts which have become such an ordeal to the average picture goer Hollywood s newspaper or business comedies always have some disillusioned hard faced female frequently with a heart of gold ready and waiting to fire her synthesised comments on Man and the world And so it was in The Invisible Circus the same situations the same openings and click like a well oiled machine the dis illusioned damsel delivers the wisecracks in a tired disillusioned voice 6 The Argus called it bright and pungent entertainment 7 Leslie Rees thought the play marked a great advance in originality for Elliott s work saying Eschewing mawkish emotional situations Locke Elliott gave three acts of diverting farce comedy He added Invisible Circus had an opening not as sharp as it should have been also it was reminiscent of the American Boy Meets Girl As the play went on it appeared to be as devoid of strong plot as had been Afford s Mischief in the Air But it was by the very means of not involving himself with complicated events that Sumner Locke Elliott was able to release his gift for gay extravagant spontaneously gossipy but pointed dialogue The second act was the best of it The story conference in which a new and idealistic script writer s opus was subjected to office improvement was extraordinarily funny The rehearsal scene was good knockabout 8 Premise editA young and idealistic scriptwriter Brad McGee is introduced to commercial radio Among the characters he meets there are the receptionist Mona a gag writer Percy a grand actress the Duchess another actress Fred The more jaded Mark Cornell winds up leaving radio Radio Adaptation editThe play was adapted for radio by George Farwell in a production that aired in December 1946 The cast included Peter Finch and Elliott himself 9 The ABC produced the play for radio again in 1951 directed by Doris Fitton 10 and 1956 11 References edit Clarke Sharon 1995 Sumner Locke Elliott writing life University of Woollongong p 289 Young Playwright Visits North The Cairns Post Qld National Library of Australia 20 September 1946 p 5 Retrieved 24 March 2013 Sydney Playwright s Satire on Radio People The Argus Melbourne No 31 304 Victoria Australia 30 December 1946 p 10 Retrieved 17 October 2022 via National Library of Australia Repertory To Produce Invisible Circus The Advertiser Adelaide Vol 89 no 27415 South Australia 17 August 1946 p 7 Retrieved 6 September 2023 via National Library of Australia Play s Premiere At Independent The Sydney Morning Herald National Library of Australia 3 June 1946 p 5 Retrieved 24 March 2013 Satire on Radio The Bulletin Sydney N S W John Haynes and J F Archibald 67 3460 5 Jun 1946 nla obj 550178509 retrieved 6 September 2023 via Trove SYDNEY PLAYWRIGHT S SATIRE ON RADIO PEOPLE The Argus Melbourne No 31 304 Victoria Australia 30 December 1946 p 10 Retrieved 6 September 2023 via National Library of Australia Rees Leslie 1987 Australian drama 1970 1985 a historical and critical survey Angus amp Robertson p 177 ISBN 978 0 207 15354 9 You Will Laugh and Laugh at Invisible Circus Witty satire on broadcasting ABC Weekly Sydney 8 48 14 December 1946 retrieved 27 August 2023 via Trove Radio plays for next week ABC Weekly Sydney 13 50 15 December 1951 retrieved 6 September 2023 via Trove Radio plays for next week ABC Weekly Sydney 18 42 20 October 1956 retrieved 6 September 2023 via TroveNotes editPender Anne 2016 Theatre Animals Sumner Locke Elliott s Invisible Circus Australasian Drama Studies La Trobe University 68 54 74 hdl 1959 11 19464 External links editInvisible Circus at AusStage Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Invisible Circus play amp oldid 1211565868, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
