The national tour of Kimberly Akimbo has made its way to the Queen City! Currently playing at Charlotte’s Knight Theater through April 27, 2025 this musical brings an unconventional mixture of humor, sadness, and humanity to the stage. The Tony Award-winning musical (Yes, you read that right! TONY AWARD WINNING!) with a book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori, tells the story of Kimberly Levaco, a 16-year-old girl with a rare condition that makes her appear decades older (think Benjamin Button, but in reverse). However, her physical appearance is just one factor of a life complicated by family dysfunction, teenage angst, and a ticking clock.Carolee Carmello plays Kimberly and delivers an outstanding performance, she brilliantly captures the essence of a teenager trapped in an aging body. She’s careful not to make this character a caricature, and alternately offers a nuanced view of youth and the weight of mortality. Carmello’s vocal performance is just as good, giving the audience a look at both the character’s innocence and emotional depth.
Let’s talk about this supporting cast! There’s fun, danger, love, and just a good time all around! Miguel Gil, plays Kimberly’s friend Seth, bringing that upbeat charm to his role, creating such an organic connection with Kimberly. Emily Koch’s portrayal of Aunt Debra, an ambiguous character, adds so much humor to this complex story. The rest of the ensemble contributes greatly to the show’s dynamic energy, perfecting the skill of finding the balance between the darker themes with moments of levity and light.
Tesori’s scores always seem to bring the stories full circle, one of my favorites from her is Caroline, or Change: The Musical. While I feel like the score may be a bit understated, it partners perfectly with the narrative’s emotional moments. Selections like “Anagram” and “Before I Go” come with authenticity, and have the potential to be contenders for memorable Broadway hits. The music meshes well, providing a backdrop that flows with Kimberly’s journey.
At its core, this is a story about embracing life’s everyday stresses along with constraints and finding YOUR OWN joy in every moment. The show confronts mortality head‑on, from a perspective that has already been riddled with problems and the most awkward moments one could probably imagine. But we see these characters choose laughter over despair, presenting not only flawed teenagers but adults whose choices reflect real human complexity. This journey of what time really is and what it means is placed in a nice frame of both humor and the specter of death and it stays with the viewer long after the final curtain. Kimberly Akimbo is an intimate story reminding us that some of the best theatrical experiences often come from stories told on a human scale.
It takes a special mind and a special person to not only play out this story, but direct it. Jessica Stone navigates the musical’s tonal shifts, making sure the production remains grounded even as the emotional and sensitive elements take control. The set is inventive, with moments such as the ice-skating sequences that reminded me of how technical aspects play such a huge part in storytelling. Bringing such a whimsical touch to the performance, I think of the magic carpet ride in Aladdin when or the turntable scene in Hadestown when looking at the ice skating scene in this production. David Zinn’s set design successfully captures the suburban New Jersey setting, while the costumes (Sarah Laux and Lucy MacKinnon) enhance the storytelling. Kimberly Akimbo runs at the Knight Theater through April 27, 2025. Tickets are available through Blumenthal Performing Arts!
No comment yet, add your voice below!
You must log in to post a comment.