When in high school we make plans for our futures. “I’m going to be an astronaut!” “I can’t wait to be president of the United States!” “I’m going to be a quarterback for the Chiefs like Patrick Mahomes!”
In “Kimberly Akimbo” at the Kauffman Center (Jan. 20-25), teen Kimberly Levaco (Ann Morrison) has never had plans for her future because she has a disease that causes her to age four to five times faster than normal, with an average lifespan of 16 years.
The show is set in 1999, before cell phones yet current enough that theatre goers can relate. Casting was done by The Telsey Office, and they assembled a cast of nine characters that work well as a team. You’ll find nine beautiful voices with individual subtlety that plays out well on stage. Being a teenager in high school is awkward, backwards, and carries a feel of being under constant judgement. The six actors in high school demonstrate all characteristics, showing the inside and outside of what that really looks like.
Unusual in a musical, the director (Jessica Stone) ensures each character has their own spotlight moment. There are no real background characters in this production. By keeping a tight cast, it creates moments where each actor has the spotlight on them so we are reminded of how we felt as teens when we thought we said something stupid and wanted to sink into the floor.
The musical’s pop-driven score by Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire keeps an upbeat energy that tries to capture both teenage angst and joie de vie in songs ranging from quirky ensemble pieces to tender ballads. Tesori’s work on Akimbo made her the first female composer to win two Best Score Tonys. However, by the end, the musical’s two recurring motifs wear out their welcome as they get repeated across so many songs without more variety.
Scenic design (David Zinn) is kept very simple and perfectly maneuverable. It takes seconds to go from the lockers outside the band and choir rooms to slip into bean bag chairs in the library. Kimberly’s house and bedroom appear with effortless ease and while you’re blinking you’re at the skating rink. This isn’t minimalist design — it’s precise use of pieces cleverly designed for seamless use in different scenes.
The plot navigates the complexities of a dysfunctional family grappling with broken promises and deferred dreams, while Kimberly discovers unexpected friendship and the possibility of living fully despite her circumstances. Without revealing too much, the show builds to a bittersweet but ultimately hopeful conclusion that lets the heroine live her life with no regrets — a journey that’s both heartbreaking and life-affirming.
Tickets for Kimberly Akimbo and other Broadway in KC shows can be found at broadwayinkc.com.
Note: The disease discussed in the show disease is fictional, but resembles a real genetic disease called Progeria.
