A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Lie, Cheat, and Genuflect

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  4w, 4m

by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore

"A bright play that should not be missed." - Asbury Park Press

The Buckle brothers, Billy and Tom, are in big trouble: Tom's infallible eye for slow horses has drained away all of Billy's savings and he has borrowed from loan shark Pizza Face Petrillo, who now wants his money back or else! There's plenty of money in grandfather Buckle's will, but these two black sheep are pretty sure they'll never see any of that. What else to do but dress Billy up as a nun and have him pose as their cousin who is to inherit the entire fortune?

Lie, Cheat, and Genuflect

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 4m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult

Details

Summary
The Buckle brothers, Billy and Tom, are in big trouble: Tom's infallible eye for slow horses has drained away all of Billy's savings and he has borrowed from loan shark Pizza Face Petrillo, who now wants his money back or else! Involve a stuffy young lawyer, a hard drinking, man hungry housekeeper and a trio of beautiful young women, and you have the recipe for a laugh packed farce of twists, turns, puns and pratfalls as Tom strives mightily to compensate for Billy's "habitual" errors.
History
Lie, Cheat, and Genuflect opened at the Dam Site Dinner-Theater, Tinton Falls, NJ on August 21, 1981. It was produced by Kathy Reed and directed by Billy Van Zandt
BILLY BUCKLE
TOM BUCKLE
ROBERT FRYBURGER
VIRGINIA
GIRL
JANE
PIZZA FACE PETRILLO
MISS MACKINTOSH
  • Time Period Contemporary, 1980s
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Additional Features Physical Comedy, Drag Performance
  • Duration 90 minutes
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

"A winner! A bright play that should not be missed." - Asbury Park Press

“A side-splitting good time!” - The Brunswick News

“This show is hilarious! It's brilliant!" - The Enquirer

“’Lie, Cheat... offers puns pratfalls and fun!... Gag after gag! spans French farce’s broad physical humor and elements of a well-made play without neglecting clever dialogue. A show worth pawning your dog to see!” - The Daily Register

Music

  • Musical Style N/A (Not a musical)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $110 per performance

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Authors

Billy Van Zandt

Billy Van Zandt and his writing partner, the late Jane Milmore, are two of the most often produced playwrights in the world. Together for 46 years, they wrote and starred in 23 plays together, including the international hit comedy You’ve Got Hate Mail; off-Broadway’s tribute ...

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Jane Milmore

Jane Milmore began her career as an actress. After starring in several national TV commercials, she appeared in the TV shows Anything But Love and Sydney, as well as guest-starring on Bless This House, Newhart, Martin, The Hughleys, and The Wayans Bros. Jane also appeared in ...
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