The true comic story of Patick Combs, an American who managed to deposit a junk mail cheque for $95000.
‘What type of person tries to deposit a junk mail cheque?’ is a question Patrick Combs is asked at several points during his David and Goliath battle with his bank. The answer is, he’s the kind of person that will ask a bank cashier for $5 compensation when the ATM is out if order, and will get it too. The saying ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’ could well be his mantra and having seen the show; I’m tempted to make it mine.
In 1995, Combs decided to deposit a fake junk mail cheque for $95,000 into his bank’s ATM machine, endorsed with a smiley face. You know, just for a laugh. It turns out to be the prank of his life however, when the cheque clears. What unfolds over the next hour is the amazing story of how this silly whim provoked a global news story and a nail-biting legal battle with the First Reserve Bank.
Combs breaths life into his story by re-enacting the emotions and actions he went through at the time; from obsessively calling his bank to hear his automated balance to frantically flicking through dusty law tomes to clue himself up on cheque law. The story is fleshed out further with the use of a projector screen, as we are shown copies of letters, news headlines and emails from sympathisers – proof of just how many people his actions affected. It’s the kind of story everybody can get behind, particularly in the current economic climate, as he tries to get the bank to admit their mistake (something they’re notoriously bad at).
This isn’t the kind of show that will have you in hysterics. While there’s no doubt Combs can spin a good yarn, he’s no comedian and the delivery is a little hammy. However, this is probably also why it’s travelled the globe, won several awards and been randomly recommended to me by a Peruvian poet at the Edinburgh Festival. It has mass appeal because Combs is a regular citizen like you or I. You wonder at his courage and despair at his compulsion to inform the powers that be what he’s done – would you confess all, if you’d got away with it?
Of course, in reality, Combs is nothing like you or I. It’s unlikely the average person would try and cash a fake cheque for instance and it’s unlikely that having done so they would then call up the authority on cheque law, happily retired, and ask his advice. Combs’ indomitable nature means he’ll try anything and speak to anyone who can help him. It it is these chance encounters which really enrich the show; as he meets the likes of hippy bank cashier Wally, who gives him insider information and tells him to ‘eat this letter’ as soon as he’s read it.
At the beginning of the show, Combs comes across as a brave, if somewhat foolish chancer, but he’s been telling this story to audiences all over the world for over eighteen years now and made a TV career out of it. Make no mistake, he’s one smart cookie.
Man-1, Bank-0 is at the Soho Theatre until 16th March at 7:15pm.
Add an event
Scoping Out London’s Coolest Historic Bingo Halls
London’s bingo halls were once a bustling part of many of the city’s communities, but as...