After making a splash in Adelaide, the four-time Tony award-winning musical Kimberly Akimbo has come to Melbourne! Set in Bergen County, New Jersey, in 1999, this Melbourne Theatre Company and State Theatre Company South Australia joint production is a joyous and colourful celebration of the little and big moments in life.
Marina Prior is at the helm and under Mitchell Butel’s direction, brings to life the quirkiness of our heroine, Kimberly, a 16-year-old girl living with a rare genetic condition that causes her to age much faster than other kids.
Based on the play by David Lindsay-Abaire, we follow Kimberly as she navigates life as a kid who is reconciling growing up while grappling with a medical death sentence. The show is as heart-warming as it is heartbreaking. Her parents constantly let her down and seem more preoccupied with their own futures than hers. It leaves you with reflections on what it means to take life by the horns and start living.
The cast is an exciting blend of Australian musical theatre royalty and newcomers. Marina Prior is widely recognised as Australia’s musical theatre sweetheart, so it was no surprise to see her shine as Kimberly Levaco. Her beautiful vibrato stands out and reinforces Kimberly’s life-beyond-her-years outlook. This is Kimberly’s show, and Prior took it in stride, delivering big, moving numbers and quiet emotional delivery.
Casey Donovan is absolutely cracking as Kimberly’s chaotic and scheming aunt, Debra. Her voice is divine and, coupled with sensational comedic timing, makes for a phenomenal performance.
Kimberly’s troubled parents, played by Nathan O’Keefe and Christie Whelan Browne, are so good at toeing the line between self-centred and endearing – they are classic narcissists! Hello, Darling is my favourite song in the show, and Browne’s rendition has the audience in stitches.
As the dorky Seth, Darcy Wain is brilliant. This is a star to watch, and I cannot believe this is his professional debut. He is a joy on stage and delivers every joke to a roar of laughter in the hall. He embodies Seth’s forwardness and teenage clumsiness with authenticity and care, creating a character everyone in the audience is rooting for.
The teenage quartet is charming as they offer fun, comical relief against some of the heavier tones of the show. They are played by Marty Alix, Allycia Angeles, Alana Iannace, and Jacob Rozario. I especially enjoyed the ensemble number, Our Disease.
The costumes, designed by Ailsa Paterson, are a delicious nostalgic throwback to the late ‘90s. The audience audibly squealed over Patti’s Juicy velour tracksuit, and I am going to be spending weeks hunting thrift stores for one of Buddy’s jackets.
Paterson has remarked how difficult it was to capture the childish essence without creating a caricature of Kimberly and her disease. And of course, there are the practicalities of working in rollerblades. The thoughtfulness of each costume is evident and plays really well against Jonathon Oxlade’s set.
The blue set is full of big and bold geometry, drawing inspiration from Kimberly’s snow globe collection. It is simple and effective, using clever rotations and lighting (designed by Matt Scott) to change scenery quickly.
Kimberly Akimbo is a musical not to be missed. It is an absurd comedy, a caper-heist, and a heartfelt celebration of growing up all in one. With rich performances, pitch-perfect design, and emotional depth, it reminds us that life is short, but it can still be weird, wonderful, and worth singing about. This Melbourne season is a gift for audiences, offering laugh-out-loud moments, tearful truths, and a reminder to cherish the time we have. Whether you’re a die-hard musical theatre fan or just after a night of funny, moving storytelling, Kimberly Akimbo delivers in spades.
Kimberly Akimbo runs to 30 August at the Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne.
Tickets: https://www.mtc.com.au/plays-and-tickets/whats-on/season-2025/kimberly-akimbo-a-musical/
Website: https://www.mtc.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/melbtheatreco/ and https://www.instagram.com/akimbomusical_au/
Photo credits: Sam Roberts
