Theatre Review: KIMBERLY AKIMBO at the Fabulous Fox

Kimberly Akimbo was a standout at the 2023 Tony Awards, winning five of its eight nominations, including Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Score. The story follows Kimberly, a 16-year-old with a rare disease that causes her to age rapidly, limiting her life expectancy to her teenage years. After moving to a new town in New Jersey, she cautiously navigates new friendships while trying to keep her family’s reason for relocating a secret. Adding to the chaos are her Aunt Debra, an endearing criminal; her father, Buddy, an alcoholic; and her injury-prone, pregnant, narcissistic mother, Pattie. A secondary plot involves four high school students trying to prepare for show choir competitions while also figuring out who likes whom and being caught up in Debra’s criminal schemes.

Carolee Carmello, playing Kimberly, has a strong singing voice, but her portrayal of a 16-year-old girl at times sounds overly youthful, almost infantilizing the role. Miguel Gil is delightfully sweet and naïve as Seth, Kimberly’s word-game-loving friend. Jim Hogan brings an enjoyable presence to the stage as Buddy, while Laura Woyasz’s stunning vocals during “Father Time” make it one of the show’s standout musical numbers. However, the true scene-stealer is Emily Koch as Debra, Kimberly’s aunt. Koch is funny, irreverent, and an absolute joy to watch on stage.

While the cast is talented, the show loses steam due to the disjointed nature of its two acts. The first act is brash, funny, and sets the stage for what seems to be a delightful farce. Even the second act begins in the same vein but is quickly derailed by an abruptly somber, melancholic storyline. This jarring shift, reflected in the lyrics and music, makes it feel as if two different scripts were hastily merged to wrap up the plot. The attempt to end on a bittersweet, but also happy note ultimately falls flat.

The music (Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire) itself feels uninspired, with the exception of “Happy for Her” and “Father Time.” This is perhaps unsurprising, given that the musical was originally released as a comedic play in 2001. With this in mind, it’s easy to see why this blending of content and music creates a sense of whiplash. The concept is incredibly original in a world of musicals being ripped from Hollywood movies. However, lacking a clear focus on its endgame, the resulting musical fails to deliver the inspiration it aims to create.

Kimberly Akimbo has its amusing moments but ultimately feels underwhelming given its awards season success. The musical plays at The Fabulous Fox through April 6^th. 

Photo credit: Patrick Gray, KabikPhotoGroup.com