Rob Witmer and Kevin Kling Photo by Bruce Silcox

I admit that I had heard a few of Kevin's (after hearing him court humiliation by laying bare the foibles of his life, I feel like we are on a first name basis) many anecdotes before, but that didn't reduce my pleasure in hearing them again, in part because they are told in a different order and context, so they can be seen in a new light, and also because they touch so delightfully a chord that makes anyone listening feel connected to the human race. He is accompanied along the way by Rob Witmer on accordion and other instruments, playing snippets of songs and sound effects that suggest both the time frame and substance of each story. Witmer pitches in with an occasional line of dialogue as well.

Many of Kevin's stories depict him as an underdog–clearly, the image he had of himself in the early years of his life, at least in part due to his congenitally short left arm. Understanding the underdog seems to be part of Kevin's life's work, as he indicates when he cites an African proverb, "Until the lion gets to tell the story, the hunter will always be the hero." Yet, when he is told by a doctor, as a child, that they are going to try to fix his arm, he protests "Fix my arm! That's what makes me special!" His grandmother may have helped him come to that bit of positivity toward his disability by telling him the story of "The Day the Pots and Pans Could Talk," a charming story he relays to us, complete with its tender and heartfelt conclusion.

We hear about the proclivity of the men in his family to be struck by lightning, his experiences on a youth baseball team (he was told to never swing, just let the pitcher walk him to first base), organizing a charity carnival in his neighborhood, and the trauma of finding a girl partner for social dancing instruction in middle school–most of which I can relate to (I have never been struck by lightning).

We leap forward with Kevin, the iconoclast who wears socks with sandals because he knows it pisses people off, to the launch of his life as a writer and storyteller. This includes the success of his 1989 play 21A, chosen for performance by the acclaimed Humana Festival of New American Plays in Louisville, and his tour with a theatre company performing in Prague where he got to pick the pop star of his dreams as his alter ego.

Eventually, Kevin brings us to the motorcycle accident which left his right arm completely non-functional, despite many surgical attempts to bring it back to life. He tells us that he learned the difference between a disability one is born with and a disability one acquires during their life–as he bears one of each. His narration of this part of his tale is more grueling, yet replete with the same folksy humor, warmth and openness to learning life lessons at every turn as all the rest.

That's pretty much the show, and a honey of a show it is. Kevin leads us to a conclusion that is life affirming, and points in the direction of positivity–which is what he'd been serving us all along.

Steven Dietz directs Kevin Kling: Unraveled and I can imagine that, in rehearsal, he gave Kevin pointers on timing and blocking, but the material and its delivery, in a voice that lies somewhere between a wise-guy and a clown, are pure Kling. Andrea Gross, the show's costume designer, provides Kevin with a somewhat dorky, yet welcoming, ensemble, and Alex Clark designed lighting that further enhances the show. A grinning Sam Albright makes a couple of appearances delivering props to the man of the hour.

Kevin Kling: Unraveled was booked for a short stay at Open Eye, and all performances are sold out, but there is a waiting list for cancellations. If you don't already have a ticket, it would be worth your while to put your name on that list, for what has got to be one of the most satisfying, uplifting shows in town. The title may be describing him as "unraveled," but by my estimation, he has a well wrapped perspective on how to find joy in the nooks and crannies of life, and a great talent for sharing those with his audience.

Kevin Kling: Unraveled, a co-production of Open Eye Theatre and Kling & Co, runs through September 20, 2026, at Open Eye Theatre, 506 East 24 th Street, Minneapolis MN. All performances are sold out, but the box office is keeping a cancellation waiting list. For information, please visit openeyetheatre.org.

Playwright: Kevin Kling; Director: Steven Dietz; Set Design: Joel Sass; Costume Design: Andrea Gross; Lighting Designer: Alex Clark; Music and Sound Design: Rob Witmer; Producer for Open Eye: Joel Sass; Producer for Kling & Co.: Mary Ludington.

Cast: Sam Albright (himself), Kevin Kling (himself), Rob Witmer (himself)