Lie, Cheat and Genuflect
by William Van Zandt and Jane Milmore
Directed by Judy McGlasson

(Genuflect: 1. To bend the knee or knees in reverence or worship. 2. To express a servile attitude.) Remember back a few years to the play Love, Sex and the IRS? It was a hilarious romp, also written by William Van Zandt and Jane Milmore. Lie, Cheat and Genuflect proves this writing team is one of a kind, again providing lots of laughs.

The play begins with Billy Buckle (Steven Tidwell) and brother Tom Buckle (Dick Nicholson) breaking into their late grandfather’s estate to steal his money and pay Tom’s debts to mobster Pizza-Face Petrillo (Buddy Evans). Having fallen out of their grandfather’s favor long ago, they realized this was the only way to get their hands on the money before the reading of the will. The only other person who might inherit the money was a long-lost cousin who hasn’t been seen for 17 years. After an unsuccessful attempt to find the cash, Tom decided the only chance they had was to disguise Billy as the elusive cousin, and that meant they had to pass him off as a nun.

Also vying for the loot is the grandfather’s long-suffering, boozy maid, Virginia (Charlie Lowe), and a mysterious former nurse named Jane (Carla Gravino-Lee). Throw into the mix a nervous amateur lawyer (Troy Martin) a nameless, lost Avon girl (Emily Sims) and Pizza-Face’s bubble-gum chewing ditzy “sec-a-tary,” Miss Macintosh (Kimberly Wright), and you have the potential for a fantastic comedy of errors.

Production dates are of course over two weekends, with Sunday matinees: September 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19. Tickets are on sale now at Theater Bartlesville, 312 S. Dewey. Ticket prices are $8.00 for theater members and students and $12.00 for adults. Group rates are also available. Call the theater, 336-1900, for ticket availability.

Director’s Chair for Lie Cheat and Genuflect Judy McGlasson, Director of Lie Cheat and Genuflect, has been involved in the Arts since high school, joining the arts community in Bartlesville in 1989. In November 2002, Judy was hired as the Executive Director for Theater Bartlesville. Judy has served on the Board of Directors for 14 years, in every position of the 80 year old organization, including residing as President on three separate occasions. She also sat as President of the Harlequins, an auxiliary to the Theater, for 2 years. Judy advocates youth involvement in the arts. She has worked towards that goal in many ways, including: teaching classes for the YWCA Young Actors Group; a facilitator for the fourth grade Spotlite program for Allied Arts and Humanities; taught individual classes on How to Audition; Choreography and Movement on Stage; Stage Presence; and Body Language on Stage. She has been the Production Coordinator for four major musicals: Damn Yankees, Annie Get Your Gun, Annie, and The King and I. She was also the Coordinator for the Bartlesville Theater Guild’s 75th season celebration. The week-long activities included: a Student Talent Show (with over 100 entries); a concert (which included local singing groups as well as a member of Tulsa Opera), a one-act play (which she directed). She also organized the Open House at the close of the week, obtaining donations that included trips, diamonds and many other prizes. Judy has acted in over 20 shows and has directed 14 shows for Theater Bartlesville, the latest being Steel Magnolia’s, Rumors, and The Diary of Anne Frank (she was advisor to the student director) and Grace and Gorie (in which she also acted).