person or book cover
Taken from The Green Room Pictorial, 1 March 1924, p. 18.
M. S. Armstrong M. S. Armstrong i(A12450 works by) (a.k.a. Millicent Sylvia Armstrong; Millicent Armstrong; Sylvia Millicent Armstrong)
Also writes as: Emily Brown ; Pejar
Born: Established: 1 May 1888 Waverley, Bondi area, Sydney Eastern Suburbs, Sydney, New South Wales, ; Died: Ceased: 18 Nov 1973 Goulburn, Goulburn area, Southern Highlands - Southern Tablelands, Southeastern NSW, New South Wales,
Gender: Female
Heritage: Irish
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

Works By

Preview all
1 y separately published work icon The Moon Sets M. S. Armstrong , 1958 (Manuscript version)x400099 Z850014 1958 single work drama A man is murdered. The police find his house inhabited by a selection of suspects including his wife and her Aunt. All seven scenes take place in the sitting room.
1 Thomas M. S. Armstrong , 1958 single work drama
— Appears in: Plays in One Act 1958;
A nephew momentarily disrupts the life of his aunts. Thomas (of the title) is the aunts' cat, sent to live elsewhere to keep him out of the nephew's way. 'A sympathetic study of spinsterhood in one of its aspects' (Comments, p. 15 Campbell Howard).
1 1 y separately published work icon Plays in One Act M. S. Armstrong , Sydney : Edwards and Shaw , 1958 Z510048 1958 selected work drama
1 Penny Dreadful M. S. Armstrong , 1958 single work drama
— Appears in: Plays in One Act 1958;
A second wife slowly discovers that her predecessor was poisoned.
1 y separately published work icon Goblin Gold Who Knows? M. S. Armstrong , 1938 (Manuscript version)x400098 Z850008 1938 single work drama A stranger unsettles a rural community by claiming to be the long lost son of one of its residents.
1 Windward M. S. Armstrong , 1937 single work drama
1 y separately published work icon Nina M. S. Armstrong , 1936 (Manuscript version)x400100 Z850017 1936 single work drama A government official is made vulnerable by his wife's mental illness. When hospitalisation does not cure her he kills her with an overdose but realising what he's done she leaves a note claiming suicide.
1 form Drought M. S. Armstrong , 1934 single work radio play

Set in a small bush shanty in outback New South Wales a husband and wife reach breaking point in the struggle against drought.

1 1 y separately published work icon At Dusk M. S. Armstrong , 1934 (Manuscript version)x401919 Z56898 1934 single work drama Sisters Lily and Amy return home to the farm at dusk to find Amy's husband Jim out. Upset having seen Bert, a man 'whose unwelcome attentions had been tormenting her for four years', Lily dies of fright when the wind blows the door open. Jim returns home to reveal he had been following buggy tracks that lead him to discover Bert's overturned buggy and that Bert too had died at dusk - from p.8-9, Campbell Howard Index (1993).
1 y separately published work icon The Unfortunate Archibalds Pejar , 1931 (Manuscript version)x400097 Z850005 1931 single work drama

The Archibalds, poor and genteel, inherit a fortune. After twelve months, the rightful heir turns up and the unfortunate Archibalds resume their former status, the sudden but brief affluence and its loss resulting in all characters becoming 'better' people. - p.8, Campbell Howard Annotated Index (1993)

1 6 Drought M. S. Armstrong , 1924 1924 single work drama
— Appears in: Prize One-Act Plays 1934; (p. 77-93) Plays in One Act 1958;

After years of drought, selectors Joe and Ellie have reached their breaking point. In fact the struggle has brought them to the brink of madness. The pair argue and reminisce about everything and nothing before Joe finally decides in a moment of clarity that Ellie should leave and go back to her family in the city. Although she is somewhat hesitant Joe begs her to go quickly before his sanity leaves him. Ellie gathers a few possessions and walks to the door. As she is about to leave she notices that the sky is getting dark. 'Clouds cranking' up a bit I expect,' says Joe, in reference to the smoke from the incessant bushfires. Ellie leaves and shortly afterwards Joe turns his rifle on himself. At the same time he fires the gun a crack of thunder is heard, followed by the sound of wild rain. Moments later his wife rushes in....

The play is set entirely within the livingroom of a bush shanty situated near the Bogan River, New South Wales.

1 1 y separately published work icon Fire M. S. Armstrong , Sydney : Daily Telegraph , 1923 Z867523 1923 single work drama Murderer turned war hero salvages his reputation in a tragic cleansing by fire.
X