Summer of the Seventeenth Doll

Summer of the Seventeenth Doll is an Australian play written by Ray Lawler and first performed at the Union Theatre in Melbourne on 28 November 1955. The play is considered to be the most significant in Australian theatre history, and a "turning point", openly and authentically portraying distinctly Australian life and characters. It was one of the first truly naturalistic Australian theatre productions.

This compelling Australian play was a success in London and was hailed by critics in New York for its vigor, integrity, and realistic portrayal of two itinerant cane cutters: Barney, a swaggering little scrapper, and Roo, a big roughneck. They have spent the past sixteen summers off with two ladies in a Southern Australian city. Every year Roo has brought a tinsel doll to Olive, his girl, as a gift to symbolize their relationship, but this seventeenth summer is different somehow. Old patterns must be broken, new ways found, as all four lovers come to face certain unpleasant truths about themselves.

This unusual, compelling love story was made into a film entitled Season of Passion and starred Academy Award-winners Ernest Borgnine, Anne Baxter, John Mills and Angela Lansbury.

By Arrangement with the Licensor, Ray Lawler c/- Fran Moore.