Broadway: Kimberly Akimbo

Here to make your shitty life better: Kimberly Akimbo is capturing the hearts of critics and Broadway’s biggest fans alike.

Kimberly Akimbo opened to critical acclaim at the Booth Theatre on November 10, 2022, but had captured the hearts of fans and was highly praised through word-of-mouth long before its opening night. I snagged a ticket to catch it just after it opened to see what everyone was talking about—and I must say this show has earned every positive word being spoken about it.

Kimberly Akimbo puts the spotlight on Kimberly Levaco (Victoria Clark), a 15-year-old Jersey teen who is bright and funny—and lives in the body of a 72-year-old woman. Though Kimberly’s fatal aging disorder, likened to progeria, is the least of her problems. She’s also navigating high school, crushes, family secrets, and possible felony charges. It is through a quirky cast of supporting characters that Kimberly’s down-to-earth heart really shines.

The show is set in 1999—that’s right before any teen had a cell phone—and the creative team worked wonders to create a setting and atmosphere that feels like the 90s. From costume design to set design to orchestrations and book, the aesthetic is so well captured it really sets the scene for the show. I love this aspect of the show, and I think it plays very well into the target audience for this show. The show has an overall feel of the throwback 90s “Teen Nick” or “ABC’s After School Special,” directly targeting millennials who were teens in the 90s. The throwback elements of the show work wonderfully at drawing you into Kimberly’s world.

Now I should mention I am not typically big on comedies because I feel like musicals often lean into slapstick or cringy humor, or swing the opposite way with very shocking humor or adult humor, and neither is my favorite to watch. Kimberly Akimbo, billed as a musical comedy masterfully walks the line of comedy with smart comedic timing and punchy one-liners. I have not laughed that hard at a show in a very long time, and I have to chalk it up to the smart writing and humor carried out by a brilliant cast.

Victoria Clark stars as the bright, grounded Kimberly Levaco, keeping solid ground between a cast of quirky characters. She brilliantly captures the mannerisms of a 15-year-old girl, while still maintaining the quirks of her body aging. Clark is funny and bounces brilliantly off her castmates. Her voice is strong and she leads this company with grace and ease.

Alli Mauzey expertly captures Kimberly’s mother, Pattie. I have to say, it has long been a dream to see Mauzey in her element on stage, and seeing her in this role was incredible. She has impeccable comedic timing and had the audience rolling in their seats. Pattie is about eight months pregnant with her second child as Kimberly reaches her 16-year life expectancy. It is a topic of challenge within the narrative, and Kimberly feels her parents are replacing her when she does finally go. This becomes a point of contention, but as a teen, Kimberly still very much needs her mother as much as her mother needs her. Pattie is also grappling with a recent surgery for carpal tunnel, in which she cannot use either of her hands. This adds to Mauzey’s comedic element in the show, which she plays very well.

Bonnie Milligan steals the spotlight as Debra, Kimberly’s aunt. Mauzey and Milligan expertly play off each other as sisters, and it was so incredible to see Milligan on stage. I have heard so many good things about her, and my expectations were blown away. Her voice is fantastic and her comedic timing is impeccable. She captures the audience with her striking number “Better,” teaching Kimberly and her friends to take control of their lives.

Justin Cooley is a breakout star in the role of Seth, Kimberly’s friend, and potential love interest. Seth is a quirky character, who doesn’t quite fit in with the other students, but takes a liking to Kimberly—who also doesn’t quite fit in. Seth loves anagrams and loves the challenge of coming up with a new one. He befriends and encourages Kimberly, taking quite a liking to her as she navigates her family drama. Cooley is funny and refreshing alongside Clark.

Ultimately, the musical is a reminder of our morality. Some of us have less time than others, which is out of our control. I think this is a very fresh take on presenting the moral of taking control of your life and not waiting for it to pass you by. I was floored by how much I enjoyed this show, and I cannot recommend it enough. The cast is brilliant, the creatives team is brilliant, and if you see one show this season, it should be this one.