by Michael Buzzelli
At the skating rink, Kimberly (Carolee Carmello) meets Seth (Justin Cooley), but “Kimberly Akimbo” is not just your average high school boy-meets-girl romcom.
Kimberly is suffering from an unnamed disease that is most likely, Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, an extremely rare, progressive genetic disorder. It causes children to age rapidly, and Seth is looking for a partner for Science Class. She wants to do the project on Glaucoma, but he wants to do it on her illness.
On a study date in the library, we discover that Seth is wonderfully weird. He’s into anagrams and a member of a puzzle society.
Note: “Flared Puny Owl” is an anagram for “Wonderful Play.”
Seth and Kimberly meet the show choir, who become their new friend group.
There’s a subplot with show choir kids, Theresa (Skye Alyssa Friedman), Aaron (Pierce Wheeler), Martin (Darron Hayes) and Delia (Grace Capeless.
Theresa likes Martin. Martin likes Aaron. Aaron likes Delia. Delia likes Theresa.
Kimberly’s family life is odd, even for a rapidly aging teen. Her father, Buddy (Jim Hogan) is an alcoholic, her mother, Pattie (Laura Woyasz) is pregnant and recovering from two carpal tunnel surgeries (both hands). Then, her Aunt Debbie (Emily Koch) shows up and things get even weirder.
Carmello is terrific as Kimberly. She is able to play the role with the complexity of the character. A young girl dying of old age. Someone stuck between various levels of maturity.
Cooley is terrific. He is charismatic, joyful and full of weird fun. He is able to deliver the most awkward lines with verve.
The show choir kids are used as a form of Greek Chorus, or rather, a regular chorus, backing up the songs, providing dance moves, etc. There woefully funny love-rectangle is funny, but seems achingly real for high school. The whole quartet is great, Hayes knocks it out of the park as the lovelorn Martin. There is a great scene during the song, “How to Wash a Check” where Friedman and Wheeler show off some great slapstick skills. Capeless’s delivery of lines hilarious.
Another standout is Koch. She is crude, crass and delightfully comical.
Playwright David Lindsay-Abaire captures the truths about high school, adds a whacky subplot about check fraud, show choir costumes and a trip to an amusement park and wedges in a powerful statement on “living in the now.”
David Zinn’s scenic design is gorgeous, especially the skating rink.
Danny Mefford’s choreography is cleverly akimbo (Seth would love that reference).
While the songs are as catchy as other Broadway shows, and the lyrics are particularly difficult to sing in the shower the next day, “Kimberly Akimbo” is a fun show with some great character work. Lindsay-Abaire doesn’t go for the easy puns, the jokes are a little smarter than most musicals.
Most of all, “Kimberly Akimbo” is a fervent love letter to life and living it as best you can.
-MB
“Kimberly Akimbo” runs until Sunday, March 9 at the Benedum Center for Performing Arts, 237 Seventh Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.
