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Regional Reviews: Phoenix Kimberly Akimbo Also see Gil's review of Newsies
At the center of the plot is Kimberly, a teenager with a rare genetic condition that causes her to age at an accelerated pace. While she looks like a woman in her 60s, she is just 16. The play is set over a short period of time around her 16th birthday as Kimberly navigates the familiar struggles of adolescence while facing the reality of a shortened life expectancy. The story follows her disjointed relationships with her dysfunctional family, including her distracted parents and a scheming aunt, as well as her budding friendship with Jeff, a classmate who sees her for who she truly is. These interactions build to moments of hilarity, heartbreak, and surprising sweetness, making for a compelling and relatable journey. The play focuses on themes of mortality, resilience, and the importance of connection that many will find resonating. Lindsay-Abaire captures both the absurdity and the fragility of life, showing how Kimberly and those around her grapple with the fleeting passage of time. While the story deals with serious topics, it never becomes overly heavy, instead finding joy in small moments, laughter in the everyday chaos of family life, and the excitement of new friendships. However, as smartly written as the play is, I do wish there were a little more emotional connection to Kimberly. On one hand, the play never turns into a sappy melodrama, which is good, but, for me, it's missing something, especially in the act two scenes between Kimberly and her parents after truths are revealed that could elevate it from a comical drama into a play that truly shows the pain and suffering Kimberly has gone through. It is worth noting that Lindsay-Abaire adapted his play into the Tony Award-winning musical of the same name, writing both the book and lyrics (with music from Jeanine Tesori), and I had the same feeling of wishing there were more of an emotional connection with Kimberly in that adaptation. Fortunately, the play is laid out expertly, with good pacing, three dimensional characters, and authentic situations. The cast bring these layered characters vividly to life under Mark Alan C. Clemente's sensitive direction. As Kimberly, Shari Watts delivers an excellent performance that shines with humor, vulnerability, and quiet strength, creating a portrayal that is both funny and moving. Watts' body language and voice inflections truly make you believe she's a 16-year-old girl living in a much older woman's body. Patty and Buddy, Kimberly's parents, are portrayed with sharp comedic timing by Hillary Low and Andrew Cupo, respectively, but both also exhibit the sense of exasperated love, highlighting their dysfunction and self-centeredness, while still showing their humanity. Andrea Hough is great as Debra, the meddling aunt. She is both outrageous and oddly endearing, delivering plenty of laughs with sharp comic timing. Jeff is played with charm and sincerity by Isaac Greenland, and his friendship with Kimberly forms the heart of the play. Clemente's direction delivers authentic relationships among all of the characters and his staging creates swiftly paced scenes spread across the various locations in the play. The simple set and costumes underscore the play's focus on character and relationships. Nothing distracts from Kimberly's struggles or the heartfelt conversations that drive the story, allowing the performances and the dialogue to take center stage. I also liked the added touch in the projections of a clock face with its hands swiftly turning. With a fantastic cast, assured direction, and simple yet effective creative elements, Kimberly Akimbo at Order Chaos Theater Company is a moving and joyous reminder to embrace life's imperfections and to find beauty in its fleeting moments. Order Chaos Theater Company's Kimberly Akimbo runs through October 26, 2025, at the Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe Street, Phoenix AZ. For tickets and information, please visit www.orderchaostheater.org. Director: Mark Alan C. Clemente Cast: |
