Lying Cheating Bastard A Soft Tread Production

By James Galea and Nicholas Hammond
Featuring‘ Australia's No 1 Magician - James Galea.

Jimmy has no idea how it happened, but somehow he was born with a gift, a talent to play and read cards, dice, any game of chance, better than just about anyone in the world.
"I always win, always", says Jimmy. "Cos I never go against the percentages, I control the variables, and I don't leave anything to chance."
"Oh yeah. And I cheat".

Lying Cheating Bastard is the intriguing tale of a young man being drawn into the seedy underbelly of Sydney, the story of infamous con-man Jimmy Garcia aka the Cricket, and how he became the most successful conman in Australia by the age of 27.

Part mystery, part coming-of-age story, part demonstration of the finer arts of trickery, Lying Cheating Bastard is the extraordinary story of Jimmy's induction into the murky world of gangsters and grift. Featuring close-up projection of Jimmy's card scams live on stage, Lying Cheating Bastard stars Australia's No 1 Magician James Galea and his increasingly astonishing feats of skill with cards and sleight of hand.

"Wonderful fun, scarily educational and with a moral sting in its cute tail." - Stage Noise
"It keeps you on the hook, right up to the cliffhanger" - Sydney Morning Herald
"A modern morality tale - funny, humorous and entertaining without ever losing its sense of purpose"
- ABC Radio
"Dazzling" - Sun Herald

Director: Nicholas Hammond
Designer: Jo Briscoe
Lighting Designer: Matthew Marshall
Sound Designer: Steve Francis
This production was produced in association with Merrigong Theatre Co and supported through NORPA's Generator program.