Ricky needs a ballet dancer and a burlesque comic for his upcoming show at the Tropicanna. Naturally Lucy wants to appear in the show. Lucy having played a petunia in a school production of "Dance of the Flowers" feels she's qualified for the part. Ricky agrees to give her a chance provided she can handle the ballet training of the stern Madame Lamond. Desperate to learn the demanding art Lucy enrolls in the strict Madame Lamond's dance class where she disastrously rehearses with the corps de ballet. Giving up she decides to be a burlesque comic and hires a comic performers to train her. The comic teaches her the standard bit - "Slowly I turn....." act and "Martha" bit. When Ethel summonds her at the last minute to step-in for an ill performer, Lucy assumes it's the burlesque performer they need. But in reality it's the ballet dancer they are needing to replace lucy arrives at the Tropicana dressed in full clown regalia and ready to do the comic bit but must perform in the ballet dance instead. Ricky sings, "Martha" and of course Lucy hits him with a pie in the face as required by the burlesque act and all pandemonium breaks loose. Getting even with her Ricky douses her with a bucket of water for having "stolen" the act.

NOTE: Ted Kurts, Fred's vaudville parterner is mentioned for the first time in this episode. Although later Fred's former show-biz pal will have a different name. Plus, this episode introduce Mary Wickes (Madame Lamond) a brilliant character actress that would appear with Lucille Ball for years to come. They became close personal friends as well as professioanl associates. Although Lucille Ball will later claim that her foot got accidentaly stuck in the ballet barre this business is actually detailed in the shooting script. Vivian Vance actually plays the piano in the scene where Lucy recreates her dance from her youngster years. Both, Lucy and Desi get their first pies in their faces on the series. Desi al though weatherd from producting and performing at the same time sings "Martha" in two languages and with great vocal ease. Because the "Slowly I turn..." scene was working so well producers arranged for the middle commercial to come 20 minutes into the show rather than at the ususal interval at 15 minutes. Originally the Madame lamond scene was much longer. When Ricky receives complains from Madame Lamond that Lucy is a klutz, the concoct a scheme to teach the redhead a lesson. Upon returning to the studio Lucy is already stuck with her leg wrapped around the barre.

Although Monster Island is a real place, the proprietors do not want the location to become too well known, fearing that twould then be overrun by the greatest monster of all: man. So my trip there was planned in secret and I had to remain blindfolded during my flight. But it was all worth it, Monster Island was the best vacation I've ever had. Being able to walk up to a 20 foot high bug was just about the coolest thing in the world. I thought the giant ape and other "Monsters" on the island would be in cages, or inaccessible, but tare quite friendly and accessible.

Although Monster Island is a real place, the proprietors do not want the location to become too well known, fearing that twould then be overrun by the greatest monster of all: man. So my trip there was planned in secret and I had to remain blindfolded during my flight. But it was all worth it, Monster Island was the best vacation I've ever had. Being able to walk up to a 20 foot high bug was just about the coolest thing in the world. I thought the giant ape and other "Monsters" on the island would be in cages, or inaccessible, but tare quite friendly and accessible.