Stage show for canine cause

WHIPPET GOOD: Braedy Rickard with Rucci ''The Wonder Dog'', who stars in a new Geelong play.

By Luke Voogt

Two pooch-themed plays, one featuring a ‘very good boy’, come to Drysdale this weekend to raise money and supplies for lost dogs and cats.

The doggish double-header begins with Hot Dog, a play featuring real-life former racing greyhound Rucci ‘The Wonder Dog’ on stage.

The play tells of Rucci’s chance adoption after an injury on the track and his relationship with his warm new owner.

The second show, The Housesitter, follows a middle-aged animal-loving woman who house sits, rent-free, while caring for people’s dogs, cats and other pets.

This itinerant lifestyle, while providing a ‘safe’ roof plus many friends of the furry, feathered and scaly kind, is also isolating and lonely.

Local playwrights Petrina Dakin and Denis Walters wrote both plays, which come to Drysdale’s Potato Shed for three double-header shows on Friday and Saturday.

The Theatre 3Triple2 presentation features open fires, warm mulled wine and live musical entertainment with Joseph Stanaway playing handpan drum.

Patrons can also view an exhibition of performance snaps from photographer Ivan Kemp.

Theatre 3Triple2 asks patrons to donate pet food, blankets or cash to Geelong Animal Welfare Society during the shows.

The shows start at 8pm on Friday and 2pm and 8pm on Saturday. Bookings can be made online at GeelongAustralia.com.au/PotatoShed or by phoning 5251 1998.