It’s the story of a teenager with a rare genetic disease that has her racing toward death at 16, with a father who drinks too much, a mother who’s a narcissistic hypochondriac and an aunt who is a felon on the lam.
And yet, somehow, “Kimberly Akimbo” is eminently relatable, with its flawed yet loving family members and a group of awkward teens on the cusp of first love, finding themselves and finding their way. Plus, it’s downright funny.
The national tour of this quirky show – winner of five 2023 Tony awards, including best musical – opened Nov. 6 at San Francisco’s Curran Theatre.
A Great Cast
It stars three-time Tony nominee Carolee Carmello as Kimberly, a New Jersey teen with a genetic disorder that causes her to age four to five times faster than others. The nine-person cast, with several actors from the original Broadway production, is rounded out by her family members, her first real friend and love interest Seth – an anagram-obsessed tuba player played equal parts geeky and charming by Miguel Gil – and a quartet of misfit classmates who put a show choir spin on Greek chorus.
Emily Koch is a standout as Kimberly’s Aunt Debra, a big comic presence with a powerful singing voice who enlists the teens in a check-washing scheme to score money for show choir costumes and for a family road trip Kimberly has long dreamed of. It’s hard not to groove along to Koch’s rendition of “Better,” despite its celebration of dubious moral choices and salty language.
While the show is recommended for ages 10 and up, parents should be aware that there’s plenty of strong language – there is a swear jar, after all – and sexual references.
While “Kimberly Akimbo” is decidedly offbeat, it never veers too far toward outlandish before being pulled back to its core of deep, familiar emotion.
“Our Disease,” a science report that starts humorously with scurvy, ends with Kim grappling with her own heartbreaking condition. In “Happy for Her,” her father, Buddy, channels every dad whose protective instincts have kicked in around their daughter’s first potential suitor – even though, in this case, the daughter has already gone through menopause. Seth, who yearns to be seen by his own family, is able to look past Kim’s strange appearance to create the real friendship they both need, with hints of those fluttery first crush feelings. And Kimberly finally finds a way to truly live before she must die long before her time. It is – to borrow one of the show’s many anagrams – bittersweet.
Ticket Information
“Kimberly Akimbo” plays through Dec. 1 at the Curran Theatre, 445 Geary St., San Francisco. Tickets start at $60. For more information, visit broadwaysf.com.
Janine DeFao is an associate editor at Bay Area Parent.