Wasn't quite expecting to have an existential crisis while reading a play about crabs trapped in a tank, but here we are. "Jimmy Kaplingus" is at times delightfully absurd and at other times very serious indeed. It's a mix that Kennel stirs up quite well in the course of the narrative. Towards the end, the inventiveness goes into overdrive and becomes extremely exciting. I was left with a pleasant, puzzled pondering at the end of this, which definitely is something when it comes to a bunch of crabs. But aren't we all crabs, in the end? Perhaps. Highly recommended!

To say that "The Story of Jimmy Kaplingus" contains multitudes is the understatement of the year. There's musing on voyeurism, the relationships between watcher and watched (audience and actors), as well as the sheer, existential terror of being alive and/or being a crab. There's also a plethora of highly curated and cared for Bro puns. Everything you're looking for in a play is here. Absolute fun and incredibly theatrical, with ample opportunity for the entire production team to do something they haven't before. And isn't that what theatre is all about? Or life?

Or maybe watching is better...

If you have a team interested in something completely off the beaten path that digs into the existential struggle of being a crab, then look no further. This piece is abound with monologues perfect for any audition, and can be produced with maximal or minimal production thanks to the copious amount of world building. Additionally, the hilarious diatribes make for a production that, in my experience, keeps audiences constantly laughing throughout the dark narrative. Kennel knows how to present irreverence, and this production is a prime example of that.