Kimberly Akimbo Review

Kimberly Akimbo is a musical built on a gimmick but packed with heart. The titular character suffers from a rare genetic disease that ages her at 4 to 5 times the normal rate. So, while she looks like a post-menopause woman, Kimberly is actually a teenager trying to navigate the awkwardness of fitting in at a new school.

It’s through this unique lens that Kimberly Akimbo crafts a touching and oftentimes funny journey that points towards what’s most important: living life. While the musical does have something to say about teenage and adult problems, it’s most interesting when it tackles its strange concept head-on. At times it can be melancholy and even outlandish, but there’s a joyful message at the show’s center.

With a cast of less than 10 actors, Kimberly Akimbo asks a lot of its performers, and that’s not even counting the unique musical number where everyone is singing and dancing on pseudo-ice skates. As Kimberly, lead actress Carolee Carmello has to play a 16-year-old teenager filled with angst and prone to awkward interactions with friends, while simultaneously navigating her relationships with her family, who are far from supportive. Kimberly’s father, Buddy (Jim Hogan), is an alcoholic and her mother, Pattie (Dana Steingold), is a narcissist. Although they are aware of Kimberly’s condition and the many struggles that come along with it, their indifference early on makes the show feel a little more hokey than it should. And when Kimberly’s scheming Aunt Debra (the scene-stealing Emily Koch) enters the picture, the show gets a little too big for its central themes.

Still, the music in Kimberly Akimbo vacillates between comedic and heartfelt, and there are plenty of incredible tunes and ballads to add to your playlist. It’s economical with its sets and creative with the way it transforms the space to feel bigger than it is. Importantly, the cast is given at least one key moment to shine, and they are all excellent.

Obviously, Carmello is the star but Miguel Gil who plays Kimberly’s awkward love interest Seth is a real standout. His chemistry with Carmello doesn’t make the visual age gap feel weird or creepy, but sweet and heartwarming. And special props are due the quartet of actors that play Delia, Martin, Aaron, and Teresa (Grace Capeless, Darron Hayes, Pierce Wheeler, and Skye Alyssa Friedman, respectively) for undercutting the seriousness with levity, punching up many of the songs with backing vocals, and for some eye-catching choreography.

Outside of a strange subplot involving check fraud – that is played up for laughs and is better giggled at than thought through – Kimberly Akimbo is best when it puts the spotlight on its lead and her unique point of view. With a strong cast feeding into a central theme of being present in your life and never putting off tomorrow what you can do today, the musical brings enough heart where it counts, consistently delivers some catchy songs, and features an all-around stellar cast. Overall, it’s a great adventure.

Kimberly Akimbo is now playing through October 13, 2024 at the San Diego Civic Theatre. View the full Kimberly Akimbo tour schedule.