The Fourth Walsh

Broadway in Chicago presents KIMBERLY AKIMBO, winner of five 2023 Tony Awards including Best Musical.

This show is ‘unexpected.’ Kimmy is 16. Due to a rare aging disorder, she is rapidly approaching the end of her life expectancy. Her mom is a pregnant narcissist. Her dad is an irresponsible drunk. Her aunt is a brassy thug. All Kimmy wants is for them to be normal. She’d like a home cooked meal, a family vacation and a treehouse. This isn’t a Lifetime movie about a loving family conquering all. It’s unexpectedly messy! The only grownup not flawed is actually a kid. And her huge heart is breaking. KIMBERLY AKIMBO is “Matilda” meets “Big” with a strong side of “Shameless.” The horribleness is hilarious. And the resilience inspires and delights!

Pulitzer Prize-winning Playwright David Lindsay-Abaire originally debuted “Kimberly Akimbo” as a play in 2000. Twenty years later, he (books and lyrics) adapted it into a musical with Jeanine Tesori composing the award-winning score. At the heart of the show is the amazing Carolee Carmello (Kimmy). Carmello gives off all the teen angst… invisible loner, embarrassed girl, frustrated daughter… within the first couple scenes. She then sings a beautifully hopeful “Make a Wish.” Her youthful and simplistic wants, as she confronts her fate, are aspirational. Her parents (played by Jim Hogan and Laura Woyasz) continually ignore, avoid and disappoint her. Her aunt (played by the deliciously wicked Emily Koch) is much more in her face. Koch, stealing every scene she is in, is unapologetically and hysterically bad! She coerces Carmello into her latest scam with promises of family time.      

For a musical, the cast seems fairly small with nine members. Yet, Lindsay-Abaire gives each character a distinct persona. Aside from the family, there is a high school quartet. Literally, they are a competitive show choir. They also are in an unrequited love rectangle! Delia (played by Grace Capeless) loves Teresa (played by Skye Alyssa Friedman), Teresa loves Martin (played by Darron Hayes), Martin loves Aaron (played by Pierce Wheeler), Aaron loves Delia. Each’s oblivion of the others’ feelings heightens the wit. And their comedic timing collectively and individually is a hoot!

And the final character is the geeky anagram fanatic Seth (played by the endearing Miguel Gil) who befriends Kimmy. The chemistry between Carmello and Gil is awkwardly adorable. Hogan’s madcap car rant teases out the crush. Later as a mortified Carmello tries to disappear into her locker, the cute Gil prattles on about her dad’s kissing concerns. The physical age difference disappears as they clumsily and sweetly stumble through all the stages of a first love.  When Gil nonchalantly helps Carmello out of the beanbag chair, my current self and my teenage self both fall for him completely.

KIMBERLY AKIMBO is all about living life’s adventure… now. Even when it’s not what they originally imagined, every character makes a wish and goes for it. KIMBERLY AKIMBO is pure defiant spunk! It’s the motivational drive everyone needs on their journey… now!  It’s an unexpectedly magical musical comedy.       

Running Time: Two hours and thirty minutes includes an intermission.

At CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe

Based on the play by David Lindsay-Abaire

Book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire

Music by Jeanine Tesori

Choreographed by Danny Mefford

Directed by Jessica Stone

Performances are:

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays at 7 PM

Wednesdays at 1 PM

Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30 PM

Saturdays at 2 PM

Sundays at 1 PM and 6:30 PM

Thru June 22

For more information or tickets

Production photos by Patrick Gray and Joan Marcus

For more Chicago theatre information and reviews, please visit Theatre in Chicago