Kimberley Akimbo
Kimberley Akimbo is based on the play by David Lindsay-Abaire that tells the story of a teenager suffering from a disease that causes her to age four and a half times as fast as normal. It is hard to imagine how such a poignant story could be upbeat, but the music, song and dance in this delightful musical does more than merely tug at the heart strings. Kimberly Levaco (Marina Prior) develops a bond with Seth (Darcy Wain) and they are brought together as misfits. The story is funny, witty and at times subversive.
Kimberley’s mother, Pattie Levaco (Christie Whelan Browne) and father, Buddy Levaco (Nathan O'Keefe), are far from model parents. Kimberley’s aunt, Debra (Casey Donovan), lives a life of borderline crime and causes further chaos in a world that is already topsy turvy given Kimberley’s condition. Her school friends Martin (Marty Alix), Delia (Allycia Angeles), Teresa (Alana Iannace), Aaron (Jacob Rozario) are stereotypical teenagers working out important questions in life such as sexuality. All the characters are often caught out by their own prejudice and stereotypical preconceptions. However, they work their way through a variety of tribulations with humour, good will and a cheeky sense of fun.
This is a musical that will appeal to a wide audience. It speaks to people of all ages, dispositions and backgrounds and this is a fundamental part of the success of the show. The music is vibrant and dynamic and offers all the performers the opportunity to shine and showcase their enormous talent. The lyrics drive the narrative and provide a window into the often-raw emotions of the characters.
Both Prior and Donovan are outstanding in their performance, hitting their notes with such force and precision that easily sweeps the audience away. Prior also perfectly captures the youthful demeanour of her character while Donovan takes the audience on a hilarious wild ride as the wayward aunt. They are flanked by an ensemble of equally talented performers, and this is one of the many strengths of the show. The singing, choreography and the live band are simply outstanding. The characters are made genuine, and the comedy is played with perfect timing and tongue in cheek humour.
The set design (Jonathon Oxlade) and costuming (Ailsa Paterson) are equally uplifting, using bright colours and playful shapes to create a very visually appealing set. This also highlights the innocence and naivety of the teenagers and echoes the tone of the music and the lyrics. Set changes are beautifully and seamlessly introduced in a simple and extremely clever manner, easily conjuring up the various and often contrasting locations.
This is an irresistible musical that will challenge your expectations and take you on a very recognisable, yet unpredictable, journey of joy, despair and triumph.
Patricia Di Risio
Photographer: Sam Roberts
Flora Georgiou also reviewed Kimberley Akimbo
It is 1999, just a regular Saturday night at the Ice-Skating rink where a bunch of lonely teenage misfits hang with nowhere else to go. Kimberly Akimbo: A Musical set in the working-class district of New Jersey is a clever twisted story written by David Lindsay- Abaire, accompanied with melodies by Jeanine Tesori. A Broadway hit in 2021, winning a bunch of Tony Awards including Best Musical, it’s now part of the MTC season, directed by Mitchell Butel with musical direction by Kym Purling, starring the exquisite Marina Prior as Kimberly Levaco.
Kimberly has a disease like progeria causing her to age four and a half times faster than normal and although her life is bleak and uneventful she remains optimistic. Her parents are dodgy and careless. Pattie Levaco (Christie Whelan Browne) her mother is heavily pregnant and has Carpal Tunnel Syndrome from working in a cupcake factory. She spends her days on her sofa, whining as she records a video diary for her unborn. Browne is superb as the crass, disaffected low life mom. Nathan O’Keefe is perfectly cast as Buddy Levaco, her lame-brain husband who works in a gasoline store and spends his nights getting drunk in the local bar.
With family life being so dismal, Kimberly finds refuge in her own bedroom, writing to the New Jersey Make A Wish Foundation in hope. Prior’s heart wrenching rendition of ‘Make a wish’ has the audience sighing with empathy. Prior assumes her role as Kimberly effortlessly alongside her exquisite vocal range - she is simply sublime.
Despite Kimberly’s unhappy family life, she has a solid crew of school friends: the impeccably talented young performers, fabulously nuanced and astute as teenage wannabes include Teresa (Alana Iannace) Martin (Marty Alix), Delia (Allycia Angeles) and Aaron (Jacob Rozario). They oscillate between the rink and the end of term school musical production of Dreamgirls.
Dodgy Aunt Debra (Casey Donovan) arrives on the scene, bunked up in the school library she finds out Kimberly and her friends need money to finance the school play. Donovan gives a dynamic, funky and in-your-face performance as the manipulative lawbreaking aunt; she belts out a hilarious rendition of the song ‘Better’ with the teens jumping on board for the ride, all enthusiastically welcoming the good times ahead.
Kimberly’s urge to experience life is relentless. She develops a love interest with Seth (Darcy Wain), an anagram aficionado. Wain gives a marvellous performance alongside Prior. Their budding relationship is sincere and honest and steers the madcap comedy into a more serious tone that gives Kimberly depth and purpose as she fights against time. The show takes a significant turn when the family dinner reveals home truths and family secrets.
The set design (Jonathan Oxlade) includes a stunning geometric backdrop that offers visual contrast against the rotating sets, working well with the racy pace of the show. The energetic-fancy-free ice-skating choreography is stunning (Amy Campbell). Costumes (Aisla Patterson) reflect the bright and colourful nineties and highlight the cartoony personalities of the characters.
Butel and Purling have created a thoughtful, sincere and crass-wacky musical comedy. The entire cast give impeccable performances and together with the creative team have made magical musical theatre come alive for all of us to experience, enjoy and love.
This is no morality tale, but Lindsay–Abaire’s story tells us to grab the bull by the horns and live your life to the fullest.
Flora Georgiou
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