SALT LAKE CITY — Fresh off its Broadway run, the 2023 five-time Tony award winner, Kimberly Akimbo, has made its way to Salt Lake City. Winning the most coveted award for best musical, this production has been highly anticipated and I was excited to see if it lived up to the hype. While the musical is not groundbreaking, I thoroughly enjoyed the inspiring touring production at the Eccles Theatre, directed by Jessica Stone.
From the award-winning writing team, David Lindsay-Abaire (book and lyrics) and Jeanine Tesori (music), Kimberly Akimbo is set in suburban New Jersey in 1999. The musical follows Kimberly, a 16-year-old girl with a rare genetic condition similar to progeria that causes her to age four and half times faster than normal, giving her an average life expectancy of just 16. As she uniquely faces her mortality, she attempts to navigate a normal teenage life of school, friendships, and a first crush, as well as a dysfunctional family and inattentive parents. Featuring natural dialogue and a score that serves the show well, Kimberly Akimbo, while highlighting tragic themes, is largely uplifting and fun.
Carolee Carmelo, a three-time Tony nominee, is delightful as Kimberly. The 62-year-old actress skillfully balances the physical aspect of her body with the endearing personality of a teenage girl, pining for a normal life. While in some ways she is a bit young for her age, she possesses a maturity gained by understanding her disease and how she has been forced to see the world through a different lens than her classmates. Kimberly is optimistic but struggles with feeling unwanted and being different, constantly on display. Carmelo’s erratic and emotional portrayal in the number “Our Disease” is heart-wrenching. She faces the reality of having no long term future, in contrast to the typical teenage angst of her peers and whose lives are just beginning. Carmelo creates a youthful and sweet voice that fits the character perfectly, while moments of a mature womanly voice come through at times to accentuate the more powerful moments of the score.
Carolee Carmello and Miguel Gil in “Kimberly Akimbo.” (Credit: Joan Marcus)
As Kimberly’s friend and innocent love interest, Miguel Gil plays the misfit character, Seth, with an awkward and excitable aura. Seth is able to see past Kimberly’s physical appearance, viewing her simply as the teenager that she is. The two connect for many reasons, and they create a wholesome and beautiful friendship. The chemistry between Carmelo and Gil is a much needed strength in the production, and it is truly touching seeing them share experiences, particularly laughing and having fun together. They both shine in the closing number “Great Adventure.”
Emily Koch plays Kimberly’s morally devious aunt Debra, and gives a grounded performance providing many humorous moments. My favorite of these was when she pointed out the “silver lining” that Kimberly cannot get pregnant as she went through menopause four years ago. The four ensemble members who make up the show choir at the school were all good as well, displaying great voices and tight harmonies. Darron Hayes as Martin showcased an exceptional voice.
Dana Steingold portrays Kimberly’s dramatic and narcissistic mom, Pattie, in a funny though sometimes sweet over the top way that worked very well. The dad, Buddy, played by Brandon Springman, is a deadbeat alcoholic. Springman gives the role heart while maintaining the character’s undesirable qualities. While Pattie and Buddy are insensitive and deeply flawed, they appear as realistic characters that are not necessarily cruel. I appreciated the distinct interpretation of their struggles caring for a sick daughter that they were not prepared for. While they do not employ good parenting skills, ignoring Kimberly and her needs, it is clear that they are coping by avoiding Kimberly’s inevitable death.
Skye Alyssa Friedman, Pierce Wheeler, Darron Hayes and Grace Capeless in “Kimberly Akimbo”. (Credit: Joan Marcus)
David Zinn’s scenic design is fairly simple for a Broadway show, but effective, serving the production well. The locations of the ice skating rink, the school and Kimberly’s house were all realistic and I appreciated little details like a letter hanging down on the Skater Planet sign. The set also made for very seamless transitions between scenes. The fake snow effect is always a nice touch on stage as well. The ice skating choreography by Danny Mefford is quite impressive, mimicking the real activity as the cast wears real ice skates to glide across the stage.
Sarah Laux’s costume design, paired with J. Jared Janus’ hair and makeup design, is also simple but realistic for the 90s time period. Kimberly is mostly dressed young to appropriately emphasize her girl-hood, an interesting perspective considering the apparent age of the actor. A subplot in the show causes Kimberly to pretend to be a grandmother and it was fascinating to see her dressed in an entirely different way, drastically changing her appearance. Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew’s lighting design was a weaker aspect in the production. I felt it was largely too bright, washing out the actor’s facial expressions and smaller costume details like accessories. This was especially damaging for this musical as Kimberly’s physical age was not shown as well as it should have been, leaving less of an impact.
Ultimately, although Kimberly Akimbo contains sorrowful subject matter, it is a touching and hopeful story with life affirming messages. The musical preaches that time is short, to find beauty in life and live it to the fullest because “no one gets a second time around.” A feel good musical comedy, Kimberly Akimbo is an enjoyable and therapeutic night at the theatre.
