San Diego was the lucky location of the West Coast premiere of Tony-winning musical “Kimberly Akimbo.” The Broadway tour of the 2021 comedy musical is playing at the Civic Theatre through Sunday, Oct. 13, kicking off Broadway San Diego’s 47th season.
The appealingly original show, which won best musical at the 2023 Tony awards, centers on Kimberly, a 16-year-old girl trapped in the body of a dying octogenarian thanks to a fictional genetic disorder making her age at four times the usual rate. With death on the horizon, she is trying to repair her dysfunctional family, have her first kiss and go on an adventure (even one that might land her in prison). Juxtaposed against these life or death stakes, she has trouble relating to her peers, who view high school as the purgatory before real life begins. While the show choir members panic over saying something awkward, winning state championships and whether their crush likes them back (they don’t), Kimberly is afraid she will not live long enough to escape Bergen County, N.J.
Alongside 62-year-old Carolee Carmello portraying Kimberly, the musical features a tight cast with four show choir members who serve as backup dancers throughout the musical, her crush— the sunny nerd Seth (Miguel Gil), her parents and Aunt Debra. Emily Koch had incredible stage presence as Aunt Debra, the chaotic con woman with the best pipes in the performance who stunned with “Better.” Gil’s clear voice as he enthuses about anagrams and tuba was also impressive, whether he spoke in English or Elvish.
Kimberly’s parents, boisterous alcoholic Buddy (Jim Hogan) and narcissistic hypochondriac Pattie (Dana Steingold), had their dreams cut short when Pattie became pregnant as a high school senior. The couple has not matured much since then, leaving Kimberly to care for their ailments, navigate their lies and mediate conflict all while Pattie is pregnant with a replacement daughter. The family is made up of lovable dirtbags, trying their best yet failing to meet Kimberly’s needs. Her gray hair and wrinkled face seem the physical manifestation of Oldest Daughter Syndrome, as she is forced to parent her own parents.
None of this sounds like the premise for a comedy, but David Lindsay-Abaire’s book adds hilarity at every turn, even with heartbreak on the horizon. The show choir students in particular are skewered frequently for their lack of social awareness as gay Martin (Darron Hayes) pines for straight Aaron (Pierce Wheeler), who pines for gay Delia (Grace Capeless), who pines for straight Teresa (Sky Alyssa Friedman), who does not realize her own flamboyant love interest Martin is gay. Aunt Debra’s check fraud scheme, in which she recruits all of the kids to do the dirty work, is also a ridiculous side plot while everyone pressures the parolee just to get a job at Costco.
The upbeat and heartfelt music from Jeanine Tesori, the most-awarded female composer on Broadway, keeps up the bittersweet tone with lyrics from Lindsay-Abaire. Scenic designer David Zinn crafted sets of such verisimilitude to 1999 New Jersey, it’s no wonder he has so many Tony nominations under his belt. The detailed portrayal of an ice rink, high school hallways, library, family home and Buddy’s beloved car were eerily accurate. The transitions between sets, and how pieces were used in multiple ways while not being repetitive, were also impressive. Sarah Laux’s costume design made the setting specific, rather than a generic ‘90s or early aughts. The lighting design from Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew was used to great effect to portray Kimberly as a haunted, yet always positive, teenager.
The 80-week tour through 60 cities launched on Sept. 22 in Denver. A few weeks later, the cast, some of whom originated the role on Broadway before going on the first national tour of “Kimberly Akimbo,” remain energetic as they show the depth of their talents. For tickets to the San Diego leg of the tour, visit broadwaysd.com.
