"Kimberly Akimbo"
Fisher Theatre
Detroit
March 12, 2025
Usually musicals about teenagers are coming-of-age stories about navigating change as they transition into adulthood. But when the teenager suffers from a disease that makes her age four times faster than normal, the story becomes less about embarking on life as it is about making the most of what’s left.
That’s the premise of “Kimberly Akimbo,” which is currently on national tour and in Detroit until March 23. It features book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori and won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical in 2023.
Set in 1999, the musical opens at a skating rink in suburban New Jersey where high schoolers like to hang out on weekends. Having just moved to the area with her family, Kimberly is off by herself while classmates skate nearby. Despite the youthful flare jeans, long hair and butterfly hairclips, there’s no mistaking that Kimberly is not like the others. She is a teenager but has the body of a 60-something woman due to a rare genetic disorder that causes her to age rapidly. As she begins school, she befriends Seth, an awkward-but-charming loner who enjoys playing the tuba, speaking Elvish and – especially – anagrams, the later source of the “Akimbo” part of the title. Her other classmates include a love quadrangle of angsty high school nerds, who just want to raise money to buy costumes for show choir and for their mismatched loves to love them back. The six of them are the only teens shown at the school – no mean girls here – and I must say, my '90s teenage, band geek heart has never felt so seen.
At home, Kimberly’s family life is tough. Her father has a drinking problem, her mother is about to have another baby, and they’re on the run from a mysterious incident that keeps them in paranoia, all while bickering constantly. While they love her, their thoughtless comments never let her forget her mother’s teenage pregnancy with her ended their youth prematurely and, with it, their hopes and dreams. When troublemaking Aunt Debra hunts them down, a new scheme arises that risks them all. And underlying everything is the quiet fact that Kimberly is about to turn 16, the average life expectancy for someone with her condition.
Despite everyone’s troubles, the show is hilarious, poking fun at exaggerated adolescent drama and family issues, all while trying to make the most of life despite circumstances that are mostly beyond our control.
The nine-person cast – which includes several members of the original Broadway production – portray Kimberly, her parents, her aunt and five classmates. They knock it out of the park, each nailing their individual battles and quirky personalities with great comedic timing and strong voices.
Carolee Carmello – a three-time Tony Award nominee – excels as the title character. Clad in colorful shirts and jumpers, the real-life 62-year-old embraces the energy, insecurity and awkwardness of a teenager fighting against the transitions of her body – much like typical adolescents. But her portrayal includes an air of frustration and sadness knowing that age will only exacerbate her problems, not resolve them, culminating with her heartfelt singing at the end of “Our Disease.”
Emily Koch, who portrays Kimberly’s blunt, sassy, troublemaking aunt, is a scene-stealer. Her larger-than-life personality – with a powerful voice to match – is one of the show’s comedic highlights, providing a necessary reality check for the rest of the characters.
The set features graceful pieces that transition easily from ice rink, to school, to home and back multiple times throughout the show. There’s a thoughtful, humorous attention to detail, like the careless upside down “P” in “Party” of the skating rink’s outdoor sign. I also enjoyed the '90s nostalgia, which included a Gameboy, bean bag chairs, pre-smartphone video recorders and the patterned, Afghan-covered couch that graced many of our homes 30 years ago. One of my favorite parts of the production was when the cast “ice” skated directly on stage.
The music moves the story along, but none of it is particularly catchy and something I’d add to my showtunes playlist. It does contribute to the show’s comedic gold. “Happy for Her,” in particular, conveys a father’s internal battle between wanting to protect his daughter from a boy while trying to be happy for her new friendship – all expressed through aggressive driving with the three of them squished awkwardly in the front seats.
Overall, “Kimberly Akimbo” is a fun show that will you keep you laughing as you remember the stumbles of youth or find relief from family drama, all while reminding us that life is precious and not be wasted.
