A GREAT ADVENTURE // A THEATRE REVIEW OF “KIMBERLY AKIMBO (NATIONAL TOUR)”
BY MATEO MORENO
Typical high-school drama is often repeated over and over: trying to fit in, passing/failing your classes, unrequited crushes, late night study sessions and graduating so that you can finally start your life. The majority of us have experienced most (if not all) of those things, so it’s incredibly relatable. However, what isn’t normal for your typical high schooler to experience is to have already experienced menopause before turning 16 and knowing that your body is closer to 70 years old. That’s the premise for the musical KIMBERLY AKIMBO, now playing at the Kauffman Center here in Kansas City. Winner of five 2023 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, this unique show already has taken New York City by storm. Now it’s on the road to tell the rest of America Kimberly’s story.
Set in Bergen County, NJ, we start off at the skating rink “Skater Planet,” where we briefly met Kimberly (played by Broadway vet Ann Morrison) and the rest of her high school cohorts, including the sweet and awkward Seth (Marcus Phillips) who works at the rink. All her classmates sing about typical high school crushes and problems but Kimberly slinks away with more than the eye can see. She has an unnamed disease that’s incredibly rare that ages her body 4 times faster than the average person, moving the life expectancy to roughly only 16 years or so (Although the disease is never named, it’s very similar to the real life disease “Progeria,” which has many of the same symptoms and the same typical life expectancy). And Kimberly, who will be turning 16 very soon, is all too aware of that. However, she aims to make the most of every day and to stay positive, which is next to a miracle given that her parents (played by Jim Hogan and Emily Koch) are about the most ill-fitted parents that she could have ended up with. Her father Buddy is an alcoholic who forgets to pick her up from the skating rink on most days because he’s too busy making drunken bets at the local bar. Her mother Debra, who’s currently pregnant, is a true to the bone narcissistic mother and needs to one-up everyone with their pain or affliction. If someone has a heart attack, she’ll respond with, “Remember when I had a heart attack,” even though that’s never happened to her. They are both rude and obnoxious but worst of all, they truly neglect the wonderful daughter they have because of her disease. They look on her as a burden and often say so out loud, in so many words. Kimberly takes it in silent stride, but you know that every barb cuts away at her more and more.
Her school chums are much better: Seth immediately clicks with Kimberly and his fascination with anagrams fascinates Kimberly and she sees a kindred spirit in him. Seth needs a lab partner for their upcoming project about a disease and asks Kimberly to partner up. She does and picks her own disease to discuss (that’s not going to end well). However, through it she forms a bond and finally has someone who just likes her because of her and isn’t always giving her second glances due to the way she looks. She also bonds with a group of outcasts, the show choir kids (played by Gabby Beredo, Skye Alyssa Friedman, Darron Hayes and Max Santopietro). Unlike all of the adults around her, these kids don’t let her down. And since all of the adults in her life are morally dubious, let’s add one more: her aunt Pattie (Laura Woyasz) reappears in her life after mysteriously disappearing under unknown circumstances. Pattie is the kind of character who is absolute bad news but is funny and charming and you understand how she’s gotten as far as she has. She has a not quite “get-rich-quick” scheme, but a “get-money-quick” scheme and she needs the kids for help. Truly a terrible idea, and by involving her niece in this she adds yet another adult to again let Kimberly down. However, Kimberly is a tough one to break and her surprising knack for being unflappable in almost any situation while still looking for the bright of life is what gives this story its true heart and soul.
Based on David Lindsay-Abaire’s 2000 play of the same name, he and Fun Home composer Jeanine Tesori transport it into a musical in a fresh, grounded, dark and ultimately very uplifting way. Lindsay-Abaire’s lyrics are clever and sweet and Tesori’s melodies once again are sweet and sometimes soul crushing (not quite the wallop of Fun Home but it’s an emotional ride). I have heard criticism from a mainstream theatregoer that it doesn’t have any songs that you leave humming, but I disagree. True, it’s not a standard type of musical. In fact, it’s far from that and far darker than most touring shows. But the music stayed in my head ever since seeing it on Tuesday night and the more heartbreaking moments have dug further into my heart. The book to the musical is also sharp and portrays the characters as very morally gray, especially the parents, who Lindsay-Abaire does not let off the hook. A refreshing take that may be a hard pill to swallow to some viewers, but a powerful one to this audience member. The cast are all excellent in their roles, with Ann Morrison shining as Kimberly. She’s awkward and weird, just like a 15-year-old would be and her unseen pain sometimes leaves you shattered. Jim Hogan and Emily Koch as the ill-fitted parents are both great, with very funny moments to level out their awfulness. Marcus Phillips is wonderful tender as the boy who supports Kimberly immediately without question. And Laura Woyasz shines (in a role that won OBC member Bonnie Milligan a Tony Award). She’s very funny, charming and cruel, self centered and sweet. She feels like a real damaged and flawed person. Director Jessica Stone does a great job of packing so much into two and a half hours and the set design is very impressive, almost identical to its Broadway sister.
Overall, Kimberly Akimbo layers out the sweetness to overtake the darker elements and has a hopeful message that shines through. “So just enjoy the ride… Because no one gets a second time around.” You’ll find yourself laughing out loud, gasping at her pain and may even find some tears streaming down your face as you leave sweet Kimberly and head back off into your own great adventure.
GRADE: A
MUSIC BY Jeanine Tesori LYRICS AND BOOK BY David Lindsay-Abaire DIRECTED BY Jessica Stone STARRING Ann Morrison, Marcus Phillips, Jim Hogan, Emily Koch, Laura Woyasz, Gabby Beredo, Skye Alyssa Friedman, Darron Hayes, Max Santopietro. NOW PLAYING IN KANSAS CITY THROUGH SUNDAY JANUARY 25TH AND ON TOUR THROUGH MAY 24th. FOR KC TICKETS: BroadwayInKC.com or kauffmancenter.org. FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://kimberlyakimbothemusical.com/