‘Kimberly Akimbo’ Takes Audiences on Their Next Great Adventure!
Life is short; I don’t think any one of us can deny that. What feels like an eternity when we’re young turns into minutes as we grow older. It’s that passage of time that makes life so precious, as we try to squeeze every second we can out of life before it is all gone. No one knows that pressure more than the star of our latest Broadway in Detroit show, Kimberly Akimbo.
Kimberly Akimbo found new life as a musical in 2021, two decades after it was developed as an Off-Broadway stage play by David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole, High Fidelity, Shrek the Musical). With original music from Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home, Shrek the Musical), Kimberly Akimbo dominated Broadway and snagged three Tony Awards, including Best Musical. While this precious musical about making the most out of life is no longer in NYC, the story lives on as Kimberly Akimbo tours across North America, bringing the story of the Levaco family to a city near you.
With depth and charm, this show makes audiences stop and think about their own life. Where we may (hopefully) have 60 years or more, Kimberly is facing the end of her life just as she’s about to turn 16. Her bravery and courage in the face of it all is a reminder to seize every day as it comes. So, what exactly is Kimberly Akimbo about? Let’s dive into what you can expect from this coming-of-age story from a time without cell phones!
[Warning: spoilers from Kimberly Akimbo are below!]
Age is but a number in Kimberly Akimbo
Starting over in a new town is never easy as an adolescent. A new school, new people, everything is new, and adjusting to the change is stressful. However, when you’re like Kimberly (Carolee Carmello), you have the added stress of blending in with the other children thanks to her genetic condition; that’s right, Kimberly ages four times as fast as her classmates, which means that at the ripe age of 15, she’s looking more like a woman well into her 60s.
This automatically puts her on the outside of her peers, whether it is self-imposed or not. She doesn’t quite fit in with the others; therefore, she stays to herself and is removed from those around her. Adding to that stress is her family, as neither her mother nor father are of much use. Buddy (Jim Hogan) is an alcoholic in every sense of the word, and her mother, Pattie (Laura Woyasz), is a pregnant hypochondriac whose focus is on the child growing inside of her instead of the one she has.
Kimberly is the guiding parental figure at home, caring for both parents, who treat her as a burden instead of a gift. Shackled by their situation, neither one is happy, with Kimberly feeling like she’s the one to blame for most of the issues. All she wants is a happy family, a unit that functions as it should.
So when her Aunt Debra (Emily Koch) arrives in town with a new scheme to get rich quickly, Kimberly sees an opportunity. Perhaps one last road trip finally give her the family she desires. Enlisting the help of some classmates, such as Dorky and Loveable Seth (Justin Cooley), Kimberly is ready to make her own life path before her condition rips it away.
A talented cast makes Kimberly Akimbo worth seeing
When I was amongst the audience at Kimberly Akimbo, one statement kept coming to my mind: small but mighty. That felt like the perfect way to summarize the cast and crew that made this musical possible. Kimberly Akimbo is small in that it doesn’t have a large cast, as it only boasts nine characters on stage at any given time. This isn’t a production that is inundated with huge ensembles that serve as the Greek Chorus, giving it that larger-than-life feeling. Instead, this show rides on the shoulders of a few who have the pleasure and challenge of making it feel large when it isn’t.
For starters, the legend that is Carolee Carmello was on stage performing in Detroit. Talk about an absolute treasure of an experience. Even though Kimberly Akimbo is an ensemble piece, Carmello is the show’s star. When you think of Broadway legends, Carolee Carmello is a name that comes up often. Her performance is outstanding as Kimberly, a girl lost in her life, from her body to her family to society. She has this soft strength integral to the role, as Kimberly isn’t overtly confident but is also sure of who she is. Carmello communicates that brilliantly.
But she wasn’t alone in giving incredible performances. Justin Cooley was my favorite on stage, with such an adorable performance as Seth. He’s a dork through and through, but he’s one of the only people who sees Kimberly for who she truly is, never defining her by her condition. I saw much of myself in Seth, someone who desperately wants connections but doesn’t always have the right words to vocalize that. Cooley was just as much a star as Carmello on that stage, already cementing himself as one of the greats.
This show would also not be what it is without the remarkable performance of Emily Koch as the rebellious and quite possibly dangerous Aunt Debra. What I loved most about this character is that she isn’t strictly black and white. Yes, many would call her a delinquent, but she’s also one of the only people who exhibits true love for Kimberly. She cares deeply for her and constantly calls out Buddy and Pattie for not caring more for their daughter or seeing her as a child instead of a burden. Koch made me laugh and reduced me to tears in multiple moments, giving Kimberly Akimbo so much heart and joy.
Praise must also be given to Jim Hogan and Laura Woyasz, who play Buddy and Pattie, respectively. Throughout Kimberly Akimbo, Buddy and Pattie are largely unlikeable, treating Kimberly horribly for the entire show. At times, their actions and words are abusive. However, both Hogan and Woyasz give nuanced performances. It’s not so black and white with these two, and it’s easy to hate them, although audiences see glimpses of better possibilities in both of them, which speaks to the actors and their craft.
Some lackluster stories and unremarkable music muddle this Tony Award Winning Musical
While Kimberly Akimbo’s main narrative is strong, some creative choices don’t necessarily mesh well, beginning with Kimberly’s classmates in the show. At its core, Kimberly Akimbo is a story about a dysfunctional family and the choices made due to that. That is the emotional strength of the show, and the story of the group of friends and their love quadrilateral doesn’t fit into that. Instead, their journey for love and costumes felt like it derived from a need to fill time rather than necessity.
Does that mean their story isn’t enjoyable? No, in fact, plenty of laughs come from their interactions within the friend group. However, their story doesn’t add anything significant to Kimberly Akimbo, which could function completely without it.
The same argument could be made for many of the songs, as Kimberly Akimbo was originally a play with the music added later. For many musical adaptations, there’s sometimes a disconnect with the music when the story previously existed. I’m thinking of Mean Girls or Pretty Women, where the story is still great, but the music doesn’t enhance the experience. The majority of the songs within Kimberly Akimbo are forgettable, although with a few exceptions.
Aunt Debra’s entrance with “Better” was a stand-out performance, bringing down the house and getting people grooving in their seats. “Make a Wish” was tender and raw, showcasing Carmello’s singing abilities and breaking the audience’s hearts. And truly, there’s no better way to close out the show than with an intimate song such as “Great Adventure,” which made me tear up that Kimberly finally found peace after so much personal strife.
Kimberly Akimbo encourages audiences to make the most of their life
This musical does an excellent job of balancing darker themes with lighter tones. No one wants to think about their death. However, Kimberly Akimbo reminds people to find the silver lining, making the most of the time they have left. It’s not easy to confront their morality in that way. Still, if someone as young as Kimberly can exhibit strength and grace instead of giving into the darkness, we can all make every day as beautiful and unforgettable as possible.
Kimberly Akimbo is touring North America, so get your tickets for a city near you! There are still a few more exciting shows to Broadway in Detroit’s current season, such as Book of Mormon and The Wiz, so don’t miss them when they arrive at the 313! Have you seen Kimberly Akimbo before? Let us know on social media @boxseatbabes!
Kimberly Akimbo Story and Characters | The Box Seat Babes Podcast
