A night of storytelling

Kevin Kling returns to alma mater

By Nicole Smith, Special to The Free Press

Kevin Kling is rarely a man of few words.

So he hesitated a moment when asked how he would describe his life using only six — a challenge made popular among writers by Smith Magazine.

“Kindly relies on the strangeness of others,” said Kling after a few seconds of thought.

A well-known playwright, author and, above all, storyteller, Kling weaves autobiographical stories with the everyday life experiences of his friends and family to produce tales that are as heartwarming as they are humorous.

A born and raised Minnesotan, Kling can find the funny in just about anything, and this ability has helped him gain a significant following nationwide with successful works, such as “21A” and “The Dogs Says How.” Several of his plays have been performed across the world, and he is probably most known for reading his essays on Minnesota Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.”

His new book, “Holiday Inn,” was just released Nov. 12, and the storyteller who prides himself on being a regional artist is traveling around Minnesota to promote it — including a return trip tonight at his alma mater, Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. Kling will read excerpts of his new book, but the audience should also expect the unexpected.

“Good storytelling should work like a conversation,” Kling said. “I will probably focus on the book because that’s why I’m coming, but whatever the audience is raring for I will spring into.”

“Holiday Inn” is described on his Web site as “a romp through a year of holidays.” Kling said it is a collection of stories that relate to various holidays throughout the year. From Halloween to Christmas and even Memorial Day, Kling lets readers in on his skewed, significant life stories in his latest installment of a book career that Kling said he started with a little hesitation.

“It is unique to get the performance on the written page; it can be a challenge,” Kling said. Drawing his inspiration from the likes of Mark Twain and famous tales, such as “The Odyssey” and “Beowolf,” Kling said people might be surprised to know he looks to classic literature to help him translate the spoken word into the written word.

His emphasis on mundane experiences, such as ice fishing and pets, is evident in his work, but most people would describe his life journey as anything but. Kling pushed every envelope possible growing up, and he tells these crazy stories in his books.

“It’s kind of amazing he survived,” said Al Behrends, who is director of fine arts at Gustavus and has known Kling since they both attended the college as students.

“He really is a character,” Behrends said. “And I mean that in a very positive way.”

Behrends said Kling has visited the college for numerous events and performances in the past, but his most memorable one took place during the theater program’s 75th anniversary celebration in 2007. Kling, who graduated with a degree in theater in 1979, participated in a rendition of Antone Chekov’s play “Cherry Orchard” with a cast mixed with students and alums.

“That was a very large celebration for us within the theater and dance department,” Behrends said.

Kling looked back on the event and said it reminded him why Gustavus still feels like home.

“As a cast, we stayed up till 2, 3, 4 in the morning talking, and I found that they still feel like family to me, and a lot of the time they are family I haven’t even met yet.”

Kling was born with a heart murmur and congenital birth defect. His left hand has no thumb or wrist, and his left arm is shorter than his right arm. About eight years ago, he survived a near-death motorcycle accident that paralyzed his right arm. Although it could have been easy for Kling to give up, he didn’t. The leaps he has made over the many life obstacles that have come at him, and his ability to laugh about them, show he is a true survivor.

“A motorcycle accident like that isn’t usually the source of comedy, but he can use his own experiences and finds the humor in it,” Behrends said.

The insight that comes from a life like his is evident when he performs. When asked about how he knows what is funny, Kling said, “I start with whatever cracks me up.”

His humor resonates with audiences young and old, something Kling said can be attributed to his belief that the scale

of human emotion is the same in each person.

“He can really pull you around and make you get very thoughtful about an in-stance,” Behrends said. “Then he will turn around and make you laugh until you cry.”