Man 1 Bank 0

Karen Branch November 7, 2013 4:00AM

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So here’s a story where the little guy kicks the big corporate giant in the balls: Man 1 Bank 0. The stageplay is based on the real-life experiences of playwright and actor Patrick Combs, who deposited a $95,000 junk-mail check into his bank account (as a joke), only to have the bank cash it (not a joke). Gerald LaBita, of Theater Lab, tells us: “Everybody has gotten pissed at least once (okay, a 100 times, maybe) at the big, faceless corporations who take advantage of the little guys (us!) every day through those horrible service answering banks (no real people here; just keep punching those #’s), [from] the enormous service fees to their arrogant, condescending managers who aren’t going to do a thing for you anyway.” Man 1 Bank 0, which LaBita calls “hilarious, fast-paced and relevant to all of us,” evens the score a bit. “Patrick is a terrific and engaging performer,” says LaBita, adding that Combs keeps audience members on the edge of their seats as he answers the show’s big question — did he get to keep the money?

8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. 3522 White Oak. For information, call 713-868-7516 or visit theaterlabhouston.com. $25 to $35.
Nov. 13-15, 8 p.m.; Sat., Nov. 16, 5 & 8 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 17, 3 p.m., 2013