**** Recommended I enjoyed watching Kimberly Akimbo. It was well-written, funny, and ultimately heart-wrenching. Carolee Carmello was brilliant as Kimberly who had to navigate her way through a new high school while managing a rare genetic disease, totally dysfunctional parents and a larcenous aunt. On the other hand, I was appalled when said larcenous aunt provided a step-by-step how-to-commit a crime in Act II. 3 ½ Spotlights
Kimberly (Carmello) has a rare genetic disorder which causes her body to age five to six years for every year of life. The average life expectancy for someone with this disorder is 16, and she’s just weeks from her sixteenth birthday.
Kimberly and her parents, Pattie (Laura Woyasz), who is very, very pregnant, and her father, Buddy (Jim Hogan), who is usually very drunk, have just moved – to escape the possible repercussions of her Aunt Debra’s (Emily Koch) latest scam. Her parents love her but she’s the reason they had to get married – and they mention that often.
As the local ice rink is closing, Kimberly eyes the other skaters muttering that they never get her. The other skaters, Delia (Grace Capeless), Teresa (Skye Alyssa Friedman), Martin (Darron Hayes) and Aaron (Pierce Wheeler), mutter about how no one ever invites them to a party. They act as a kind of Greek chorus throughout the play. As she waits outside for Buddy to pick her up, Seth (Miguel Gil), the skate rental guy, offers to wait with her.
Seth asks Kimberly to be his partner for an upcoming school project. As they become friends, he shares his obsession with anagrams (the title Akimbo is an anagram for her name). She shares her lifelong dream of a road trip to Graceland. Also at school, Delia, Teresa, Martin and Aaron, who just don’t fit it with the ‘cool’ kids, are trying to win a singing competition but they need costumes.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when Aunt Debra drags a mailbox into the house and down the basement stairs. Then she drafts all six kids into her latest scheme, washing checks. There is a happy ending, as Kimberly and Seth take off on their great adventure.
Kimberly Akimbo was written by David Lindsay-Abaire (book & lyrics), with music by Jeanine Tesori. It opened Off-Broadway in 2021, moving to Broadway in 2022. It won five Tony Awards in 2023, including Best Musical. The production is directed by Jessica Stone with choreography by Danny Mefford.
The orchestra includes Music Director Leigh Delano (Conductor/Keyboard), Associate Music Director Ryan Edward Wise (Keyboard 2), Michael Livingston (Reed 1), Peter Brusen (Reed 2), Frank Zambrano (Drums), Dominic Lamorte (Bass), Azana Hightower (Guitar), Tahirah Whittington (Cello).
Kimberly Akimbo runs through June 22nd at Broadway in Chicago’s CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe, Chicago. Running time is two hours, 30 minutes, with an intermission. Performances are Tuesday at 7:00 pm; Wednesday at 1:00 & 7:00 pm; Thursday at 7:00 pm; Friday at 7:30 pm; Saturday at 2:00 & 7:30 pm; and Sunday at 1:00. Tickets range from $35-$125. FYI www.BroadwayInChicago.com