The Cow Jumped Over the Moon

For the nursery rhyme known as The Cow Jumped Over the Moon, see Hey Diddle Diddle.

The Cow Jumped Over the Moon is a 1937 Australian stage play by Sumner Locke Elliott. It was the first stage play by Elliott who was only twenty years old when it debuted.^[2][3]

The Cow Jumped Over the Moon
Written by	Sumner Locke Elliott
Date premiered	30 October 1937[1]
Place premiered	Independent Theatre, Sydney
Original language	English
Genre	comedy

Elliott's biographer said the play influenced almost every novel he wrote.^[4]

Reception

Reviewing the original production at the Independent Theatre the Sydney Morning Herald said "Dialogue is brisk, convincing, and studded with certain laughs; characterisation is excellent; and the plot is well conceived and skilfully developed. It lacks the self-conscious amateur touch of most Australian plays, and must be rated among the best local efforts of the year."^[5] Another critic wrote "Apart from the bright story and snappy lines, this comedy is so well written that every character gets into the spotlight."^[6] The Bulletin said "The play drew a crowded audience, and, what is more, kept its laughter and interest right till the final curtain."^[7]

The play was performed for a season in Los Angeles at the Call Board Theatre in 1938.^[8] The play had been suggested by William Rees, formerly of Sydney who then lived in Los Angeles.^[9]

The play was seen by scouts from MGM who at one stage reportedly considered it for a vehicle for Billie Burke but decided against it on the grounds it was too similar to The Vinegar Tree.^[10]

Elliott later recalled the play "took about three days to complete, which is easily understandable if you take into consideration it is merely The Vinegar Tree with artificial colouring. . . . On the opening night a fuse blew out in the second act requiring most of the act to be played with the house lights on and seemed to me at the time a major catastrophe. I think I gave a rather conceited opening night speech and | received an anonymous letter about my profanity."^[11]

Premise

A widowed middle aged woman meets an ex boyfriend.