The lease involved here is clearly within the statute. Kamada v. RX Group Limited, 639 S.W.2d 146 (Mo.App.1982) [1-4], Subsequent oral variations or amendments of a written contract within the statute of frauds will support neither an action nor a *192defense to an action. Warren v. A.B. Mayer Mfg. Co., 161 Mo. 112, 61 S.W. 644 (1901) l.c. 647; Rucker v. Harrington, 52 Mo.App. 481 (1893). If the contract falls within the statute the court must consider whether there is a writing sufficient to satisfy the statute before it allows proof of the existence and terms of an oral contract. Vess Beverages, Inc. v. Paddington Corporation, 941 F.2d 651 (8th Cir.1991) [10, 11 fn. 6]; Howard Construction Company v. Jeff-Cole Quarries, Inc., 669 S.W.2d 221 (Mo.App.1984) [18-21]. Testimony of the terms of an oral contract cannot be utilized to complete the writing contemplated by the statute; the writing must itself contain all the essential elements of the contract. Id.