REVIEW: Wombat Drool (Nu Sass)
Aren’t you excited that the pandas have returned to the National Zoo?
Well, the longest-tenured keeper in the institution’s history isn’t. In fact, if you asked David Kessler himself, he’d tell you the real pandas never left. But the power held by CMV’s — that’s “Charismatic Mega Vertebrates”, a term now holding a permanent spot in my lexicon—is immense, unlikely to be stopped anytime soon. Despite the clout of the black-and-white bear, Kessler isn’t giving up without a fight; and in his retirement, he invites audience to one-man show in which he champions awareness of cmv’s (that’s “charismatic mini vertebrates”, complete with matching letter case). Nu Sass and Uncle Funsy are bringing this revival of a 2015 Fringe favorite back in an expanded way at the Dance Loft on 14.
Book
Kessler kicks things off with a brief preamble about his tenure at the zoo, and some of the ups (re-establishing a native population of lion tamarinds in Brazil) and downs (the sudden deaths of red panda cubs). It well-establishes the tone of the show using some deftly goofy dad humor and some inviting intelligence, and following a brief pause, the bearded scientists returns, this time addressing us as if at a zoology conference. His presentation? “Why the National Zoo Should Have a Wombat”. You know, why don’t they have one? Though I would have definitely enjoyed a real presentation of it at an actual scientific venue, Kessler segues into elements of his personal life, such as his marriage and struggle to grasp the hazardous interests of his daughter and subsequent move to California. It all ties together well, painting a full picture of the type of person one doesn’t think about. I mean, when you go to the zoo, how often are you considering the private life of the keeper? They’re human —animals, after all—and the job is full of its own struggles and thanklessness. In Kessler’s own words, he seeks to stand up for the little guys, and to this, he succeeds with heartfelt argument and jolliness. “Wombats drool? No, Wombats rule!” indeed. 8/10
Acting
Though Kessler plays a semi-fictionalized version of himself, there’s still some thespic restraint that prevents him from simply rambling about his career. It’s sometimes uncanny, as if a slightly alternate universe version of him has emerged, but never is it inauthentic or dull. His earnest, inviting demeanor makes him more of a friendly grandpa than a scientific lecturer, and the attention of the audience is able to persist through it effortlessly as a result. 7/10
Production
The space at Dance Loft is huge— which for its normal purposes is understandable, but for this production, wasn’t utilized well. Am I supposed to feel like I am 1,000 feet from the performer? Which is a bit of a bummer given there’s only five main set pieces, hand-painted animal portraits. They’re lovely and deserve a finer look at their details. 5/10
Viz
With a name like Wombat Drool, one would hope the show is at least vaguely about the marsupial. (It is.) The program even has a cute, slobbery fella on the front. Heck, as a souvenir, Nu Sass is doling out little miniature ones with any donation over $5 (that is, if the “baby” one Kessler gives you in the show as a keepsake isn’t enough). The staging doesn’t immediately match the vibe, but if you’re trekking all the way out to Dance Loft for a show with a name like this, I’m sure you don’t need much convincing. 8/10
Verdict
Wombat Drool is an enjoyable one-man performance that intelligently lets the man with an ultimate animal science pedigree stand up for the forgotten ones. 28/40
