[NEohioPAL]BERKO: REVIEW OF KIMBERLY AKIMBO (DOBAMA) & PREVIEWS

[Roy Berko]

DOBAMA’S ‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’ IS FUNNY BUT MISDIRECTED

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	

Progeria is a rare genetic condition characterized by
an appearance of accelerated aging in children.  About
one in 8 million newborns are born with the disease. 
Since it was described in 1886 about 100 cases have
been identified in the world.  The child, who quickly
races into adulthood at about the rate of seven aging
years per single real year.   It affects both sexes
equally and all races. Characteristics include
dwarfism, baldness, a pinched nose, small face and jaw
relative to head size, delayed tooth formation, aged
looking skin, stiffness of joints, and cardiovascular
problems.  

Dobama Theatre has chosen to open its 44th season with
David Lindsay-Abaire’s play ‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’ which
investigates a girl/woman going through life rapidly
with Progeria.  This is, you might surmise, an
afternoon special, illness of the week, weepy play. 
Wrong!  This is a comedy!  Now, you are probably
saying, "How can a play be funny when we see the
sixteen-year-old victim near death?" Well, in the
hands of Lindsay-Abaire it is possible.

The play exposes us to Kimberly Levaco and her
dysfunctional family who flee one New Jersey city for
another under dubious circumstances.   We watch as
Kimberly evaluates her life while contending with a
hypochondriac mother, a rarely sober father, a
scam-artist aunt, her own mortality and the
possibility of first love.

On opening night the audience was convulsed in
laughter for much of the play.  Unfortunately, don’t
confuse that with the production being well developed
and performed.  Part of this is an issue with director
Walter Eugene Grodzik’s take on how the play should be
interpreted, part is the fault of the play itself.

Grodzik seems to confuse the words "comedy" and
"farce." Rather than let the many, many funny lines
develop on their own, he has directed his cast to go
over the top.  The constant yelling, over-acting,
double-takes, and almost begging the audience to
laugh, takes away from the true wit of the play.  In
spite of the hyper-hysterical pace and acting, some of
the performers shine.  Sean Fitzgerald is wonderful as
the nerdy Jeff.  One can only imagine how wonderful he
would have been if he had been allowed to use his
natural sense of timing, instead of imitating a
windmill with arms flailing, and a super high-pitched
voice.  Paula Duesing walks the fine line between
teenager and aged adult with precision.  John Kolibab
has a wonderful scene at the start of the second act
in which his desperate, short-lived sobriety comes
ringing clear.  Unfortunately, in most of the play he
over does it.  The rest of the cast is over the edge. 
We laugh at the actors, not with the characters.

In Lindsay-Abaire’s defense is the fact that the
author has not given the director a totally good
script with which to work.   Reviews of previous
productions state:  "The play doesn’t entirely come
together as a play" and  ‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO ‘is somewhat
problematic and unpolished, and "The characters are
broadly painted, and maybe three-quarters defined, as
if Lindsay-Abaire had to cram a lot of quirkiness and
exposition into the already svelte running time of 105
minutes."

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:  Many audience members will find 
‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO ‘ to be an evening of laughs and
appreciate the fact that a severely depressing subject
can be dealt with in a humorous manner without mocking
the disease.  On the other hand, the play and the
production are not wonderful theatre.

For information and tickets to  ‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO ‘
call 216-932-3396.

COMING ATTRACTIONS:

‘DISCORDIA’ at Cleveland Public Theatre (October
17-November 8) A new satiric musical by James Levin
and Linda Eisenstein about a nation at war.  Directed
by Raymond Bobgan who gave us the incredible Times
Tribute winner, ‘BLUE SKY TRANSMISSION.’
(216-631-2727)

‘VICTOR, VICTORIA’ at Cassidy Theatre (September
19-october 12).  Blake Edwards, Henry Mancini and
Leslie Bricusse’s musical about a woman pretending to
be a man pretending to be a woman. (440-842-04600)

‘GROUNDWORKS DANCE’ at St. Peter’s Church, 1533 East
17th Street, Cleveland   (October 2-4).   David
Shimotakahara’s outstanding company returns for
another season of high quality dance.  (216-691-3180,
ext. 3)

‘FRANKIE AND JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE LUNE,’ Ensemble
Theatre performs Terrence McNally’s recent Broadway
revival hit at the Brooks Theatre of the Cleveland
Play House.  Written by the author of ‘THE FULL
MONTY,’ ‘RAGTIME,’ and ‘LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION!,
this finely honed play is a tough and tender comedy. 
(216 321-2930)

‘WAIT!,’ a production presented by TITLEWave theatre,
Cleveland’s newest theatre company.   Founded by
Gregory Vovos, the company’s goal is to present
original plays.  WAIT!, by Salt lake City playwright
Julie Jensen, is a comedy about a woman who searches
for her identity.  The show will be presented at
Cleveland Public Theatre from September 26-October 11.
  (216-631-2727)

 ‘2 PIANOS, 4 HANDS,’ (September 23-October 19 at the
Cleveland Play House)  is a music-filled play that
takes the audience through a quest for excellence in
music and life.  (216-795-7000).

‘THE FIX’, Beck Center, (September 19-October 12) is a
musical roller coaster ride through the sordid and
shameless world of American politics, with a diverse
score from rock and roll to gospel.  (216-521-2540)

‘HAMLET’ and ‘TARTUFFE,’ presented in revolving
repertory by Great Lakes Theater Festival, will run
for five consecutive weeks from October 10 to November
9 with a company of actors who perform in both plays.

‘LES MISERABLES,’ the legendary award-winning musical
will return to Playhouse Square Center from October
7-12.  Based on Victor Hugo’s classical novel, this is
one of the world’s great musicals, having won more
than 50 major awards including the Tony Award for Best
Musical.  This is a full Broadway level production. 
(216-241-6000)

‘CHICAGO’, the award winning musical, will play eight
performances (October 21-26) at the State Theatre in
Playhouse Square Center.   (216-241-6000 or
800-766-6048)

‘STOMP’, the international percussion sensation, makes
its return to the Palace Theatre in Playhouse Square
Center for eight performances (September 16-21).  This
sensory delight combines a pulsating symphony for the
ears with a frenzied display of movement for the eyes.
 (216-241-6000 or 800-766-6048)

‘ROMEO AND JULIET’ will be performed by Ohio Ballet on
October 3-4 at the Ohio Theatre in Playhouse Square
and October 10-11 at E. J. Thomas Performing Arts
Hall.  (330-972-6513 or 216-861-5545)


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