Darlings, Who Would Have Thought A Problematic Show Could Make One Feel So Good?????????????

                           We saw this show two weeks ago Sunday, as David's birthday present.  It was a wonderful choice.  And it is playing at the Booth Theatre.  The problematics of the show are its being about a girl, Kimberly, who has so much going against her.  First, she was born with the disease progeria, where the body ages faster than normal.   Imagine going through puberty at eight.  And menopause at ten.  The life expectancy for one with the disease is sixteen years (Remember the "Sleeping Beauty" fairy tale?  Her life was limited to sixteen by the evil fairy.  A coincidence, or not?)

                                Highly unlikely because the creative team is David Lindsay-Abaire, and Jeannine Tesori.  He wrote the book and lyrics, she the music.  Which she did with "Fun Home" which this show begs comparison with.   I found this more hopeful, but there are no signature songs, as there were in "Fun Home."  There is nothing to match Sydney: Lucas ' heartrending "Ring Of Keys," or Judy Kuhn's dramatic "Days And Days."  Victoria Clark, throughout 'Kimberly' gives a haunting performance that at times breaks the heart but lifts the spirits.  She is aided and abetted by her dysfunctional family.  Steven Boyer and Ali Mauzey play the parents, a pair of childish narcissists, with Boyer's character also an alcoholic.

Almost stealing the show is Bonnie Milligan as Debra, Patti's grifter con-artist sister, who, in an odd way, encourages Kimberly in ways that her parents are unable to.  When Bonnie lets loose her voice in song, it almost steals the show.

                                A lot goes on here, not to mention the show is set in Bergen County, New Jersey.  While I did not grow up there, I certainly knew it, so I got a kick when all these Jersey towns, like Lodi, are referenced, and I knew them all!  New Jersey could also be one reason why Kimberly wants adventure, because, well, it is New Jersey, and I gather the family does not live in the high-end section of Bergen County.  A girl just HAS to escape.

                                The ensemble cast, and their performances, reminded me of 1978's "Runaways," how adolescence is such a frustrating period, because one wants to flee, but being a minor, can't.

                                   Jessica Stone and Danny Mefford are director and choreographer, and their work is both moving and inspiring.  I loved the last moments of "Kimberly Akimbo."  They almost made me want to be sixteen all over again.

                                    But not quite.