Lucy Writes a Play

Lucy and Ethel read through in Lucy Writes a Play

Lucy Writes a Play – I Love Lucy episode 17, originally aired 2/4/1952

Lucy writes a play for her woman’s club, but when Ricky won’t perform it, she changes it from the Cuban setting A Tree Grows in Havana to an English setting, The Perils of Pamela with Fred as the lead. Ricky later changes his mind when he learns that a Hollywood talent scout will be in the audience, but he’s using the original script while everyone else uses the new version.

Lucy Writes a Play is available on the season 1 I Love Lucy DVD collection.

I Love Lucy Quotes

Lucy and Ethel read through in Lucy Writes a Play

Ethel (Vivian Vance) [reading from Lucy’s script]: You look very pretty, Lucita.  Your hair is shining, your eyes are bright, and your nose is continued on the next page.


Ricky Ricardo: Excuse me, Mrs. Shakespeare, but would you mind telling me what this is all about?

Lucy Ricardo: Well, you see, all the women’s clubs in town are having a big play writing contest.

Ricky Ricardo: I knew it, I knew it. This had to do with the Wednesday Afternoon Fang and Claw Society.

Lucy Ricardo: It’s the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League. Gee, just think, if our play wins I just might become a big, famous playwright. I might become another Tennessee Ernie.

Ricky Ricardo: That’s Tennessee Williams.

Lucy Ricardo: Oh.


Ricky Ricardo: [Ethel enters in a flowing black outfit bedecked with veils and gaudy jewelry] Who are you supposed to be?

Lucy Ricardo: Well, what do you think?

Ricky Ricardo: The Bride of Frankenstein?

Ethel Mertz: Well!

Lucy Ricardo: She’s a Spanish senora.

Ricky Ricardo: She suffers in the translation.


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Professional clown for over 25 years - happily married, with 5 children and 1 grandson