David S. Kessler in “Wombat Drool.” Photo by Aubri O’Connor.
Wombats, who knew? Former small mammal, zoo biologist David S. Kessler happens to be a pretty ardent supporter of the wombat—of all small mammals really, but perhaps most fondly, the wombat. One of the more memorable lines of the show is when “K” notes that the most popular exhibit in the zoo is a keeper in a cage. People love to see people doing their work, he explains. When it comes to those who work at the zoo, while we may stare even gawk as they feed the tigers or clean the orangutan habitat, we don’t really “know” them. I use “know” here in the more existential, “who are they really” sense. “Wombat Drool,” first premiering at Capital Fringe 10 years ago, offers audiences that “who are they really?” glimpse into the life of a long-time zoo employee, and it is a truly fascinating glimpse into that world.
…authentic…A deeply thoughtful foray…delightfully entertains and informs.
Kessler, playing “K,” collects forty years of professional memories and ties them together with life lessons—along with heartfelt insights into his own struggles amid emotional hills and valleys—to create this one-man show about what it means to daily engage with the smallest creatures at the zoo. These are the animals that are often overlooked, he says. The large animals—the giraffes, the bears, and the elephants—receive all the attention while the naked mole rats and red pandas seem to get somewhat lost in the shuffle. K’s stories rescue these tiny mammals from the “shuffle” and, through picture and fond memory, place them center stage.
The way in which Kessler interweaves anecdotes from the field with, for example, his daughter’s upcoming (and heartbreaking) move across the country, reminds us that work and life do cross boundaries, as one often has the capacity to shed a powerful light on the other. It is an authentic show during a time and in a world where authenticity can be difficult to come by. Lynn Sharp Spears directs and seems to have established a beautiful sort of synergy with Kessler that serves to bridge movement, emotion, and storytelling in poignantly defined ways. Complemented by a few noteworthy props—most memorably tiny, newborn “wombats” (which you have to experience for yourself to understand)—along with paintings of the animals, the stories come to life in ways that make you rethink what it is we see when we look into the enclosures at the National Zoo. A deeply thoughtful foray into a subject about which not many people may know, “Wombat Drool” delightfully entertains and informs.
Running Time: One hour and 30 minutes with no intermission.
“Wombat Drool” runs through March, 29, 2025 presented by Nu Sass Productions and Uncle Funsy Productions at the Dance Loft on 14th, 4618 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20011. For more information and to purchase tickets, please go online.
