Kimberly Akimbo
Winner of five Tony Awards for Best Musical, Kimberly Akimbo is making a pit stop at the CIBC theater. This intriguing Tony Award-winning narrative is about a unique girl named Kimberly, who has the rare and devastating disease (progeria, also known as Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome), a condition that causes her body to age at an alarming rate—four times faster than that of her peers—with individuals affected by this syndrome rarely living beyond the age of 16. As Kimberly nears this milestone, she faces not only the physical challenges of her illness but also the emotional turmoil stemming from her deeply dysfunctional family. Her father, a borderline alcoholic, often finds solace in drinking to disguise his pain. At the same time, her mother battles her demons, trapped in a cycle of delusion and debilitating panic attacks. Adding to the chaos is her aunt, a scheming criminal with a history of incarceration, who has recently resurfaced with a plot to pilfer checks from a mailbox stolen from a nearby corner. Faced with this rare genetic condition and tumultuous family and school peer environment, Kimberly wants to enjoy one day of everyday life.
The play ensemble group consists of Jim Hogan, Laura Woyasz, Grace Capeless, Skye Alyssa Friedman, Darron Hayes, and Pierce Wheeler, as well as two outstanding performances from Miguel Gil and Emily Koch. While it holds the honored title of a Tony Award winner, I find myself unconvinced by the alternate, diverted storyline of this play. The primary narrative, which should delve deeply into Kimberly's condition, unfortunately, veers off course to focus on a disparate tale involving four teenagers in a desperate quest for funds to win a singing contest and their willingness to win at all costs, even if it means possible felony charges. It also features an aunt who conspires to erase the ink from stolen checks pilfered from a mailbox. This aunt, Debra, whom the family has fled to escape, manipulates the situation so these kids can cash the fraudulent checks, dividing the ill-gotten gains among themselves. In this scenario, Kimberly's opportunity to "see the world" that her father spoke of feels more like an afterthought. And it never really deals with the fear, pain, and stress Kimberly would have to endure trying to contact her peers. Is it the case that we've come to a point where the normalization of thievery and being bad over good is deemed acceptable in our quest for a better life, to the extent that we bestow accolades upon productions that promote such narratives? While I understand this isn't the first instance, nor will it likely be the last, this particular play has completely abandoned a rich and influential narrative. It had the potential to educate audiences about a rare condition (estimated to affect 1 in 20 million people),
captivating them with every spoken word, yet instead opted for a blend of comedy over sympathetic tragedy and triumph. Despite being a five-time Tony winner, I cannot simply conform to the status quo or follow the prevailing trends. This play squandered a remarkable opportunity to create a truly memorable experience. Now that I'm off my soapbox, Kimberly Akimbo is entertaining, funny, and engaging, and I loved the chemistry between Carmello and Gil, as well as Koch's interaction with everyone. Audiences will also connect with Carmello, as Kimberly, making you see the teenager struggling with adolescent life within her extraordinary circumstances.
"Kimberly Akimbo" has garnered widespread acclaim for its distinctive fusion of humor, emotional depth, and enthralling themes. The performances with catchy songs, are memorable, featuring lovely portrayals that bring the characters to life and offer a unique, still unorthodox combination that some viewers will enjoy. "Kimberly Akimbo" is worth seeing for its out-of-the-box theatrical performance. Still, I was hoping for more storyline similar to the 2017 movie, Wonder, triumphing against the odds, than Catch Me If You Can, Check Washing Plot. I still believe it miss the chance of being one of those phenomenal, once in a lifetime plays.
⭐⭐⭐
CIBC Theatre
Kimberly Akimbo
Book and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire
Directed by Jessica Stone
Jun 10 -Jun 22, 2025
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