Australian TV Plays: AP#2.10 - On the Hop (17 Aug 1967)

Premise

Red Ruby, Queen of Wooloomooloo, is retiring after 15 years in the 'business', because her uncle has died and she is inheriting his circus. She is preparing a party with her "girls" Lacey and Jackie, male friend Battler and maid Lizzie. Jackie turns up with the inheritance which turns out to be a flea circus.

This disappoints Ruby until Jackie says Uncle Charlie would tour carnivals with the circus and earn $500-$600 a week. However the fleas then escape.

Lizzie is keeping a dog, Shah, which turns out to have been stolen from a neighbour. The fleas take refuge in a dog.

A policeman, Sgt Williams, arrives to retrieve the dog with the dog's owners, a well-to-do husband and his snobby wife. The husband recognises Ruby. Lizzie confesses to having the dog and claims it followed her home. They are without fleas.

Ruby decides to get married. Lizzie discovers a flea. Sgt Williams returns with a new dog that he bought for Ruby as a retirement present. Battler turns up with a number of dogs.

Cast

* Shirley Cameron as 'Red' Ruby Molloy

* Wendy Blacklock as Lizzie, Ruby's kleptomaniac maid

* Kevin Manser as Battler, Ruby's gentleman friend

* Lyn Lee as Jackie

*Carmen Duncan as Lacey

*Tom Farley as Sgt Williams, who asks Ruby about the stolen dog

*John Huson, Elizabeth Kirby, May Pusey, Michelle Pippin, Ross Williams

* Shah was Ch Emir Bar Wala trained by Monty Hamilton Wilkes

Production

Written by Michael Laurence. He was then an actor - this was his first script. He later went on to write Return to Eden.

Its original title was The Inheritance.

Shirley Cameron was a regular in the Reg Livermore TV series I'm Alright Now. She had returned to Australia from Britain in 1966. She was in Casualty as well.

Produced and Directed by Pat Alexander. Technical production - John Garton. Lighting - Ken Branford. Design - Jack Montgomery.