Kimberly Akimbo at the Saenger Theatre
Having seen Kimberly Akimbo in its original small, off-Broadway theater and then at the Booth Theater, one of Broadway’s smaller houses, during its Tony Award-winning run, I wondered how this quirky musical would manage in the vast confines of the Saenger Theatre. The answer? Quite well, thank you very much.
Jessica Stone’s sharp direction effortlessly filled the Saenger’s stage and David Zinn’s enlarged set design . Critically, Kai Harada’s excellent sound design allowed just about every one of David Lindsay-Abaire’s tremendously smart lyrics to be heard with Jeanine Tesori’s zingy and individualistic tunes never overpowering the words. This all combined to make Kimberly Akimbo even more charming than I had remembered it to be.
Based on Lindsay-Abaire’s dramedy of the same name about a teenage girl who has a rare disease that causes her to age rapidly and prematurely, the musical version retains the play’s quirky humor which, for some reason, seems more plausible in a musical, and adds four geeky high school classmates of Kimberly’s to winning effect; this chorus of 4 turns out to be just as good, if not better, than one of 20.
The plot borders on the wacky (but, fortunately, never completely tips over into it) as the emotionally resilient Kimberly deals with her crazy family members (Mom, Dad, Aunt), and strikes up a tentative relationship with a nerdy (but quite adorable) classmate of hers for one of musical comedy’s oddest and yet most beguiling romances.
In the title role, Ann Morrison, who was in the original cast of Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along, proved that others besides Victoria Clark, who won a well-deserved Tony Award for the part, can inhabit Kimberly with subtle passion, bountiful hope, teenagerly angst and joyous humanity.
As the dysfunctional parents, Laura Woyasz (Mom Pattie) and Jim Hogan (Dad Buddy) were worthy successors to the originals. Miguel Gil, who, like Hogan, had been an understudy on Broadway, fused gawkiness with sincerity as, first, Kimberly’s science project partner and, later, her beau. The classmates, hormonally fueled and each pining for one who yearns for another, were all topnotch (Gabby Beredo, Skye Alyssa Friedman, Pierce Wheeler, and understudy Regene Seven Odon).
Ann Morrison and Miguel Gil in Kimberly Akimbo (photo by Joan Marcus)
Only Emily Koch, as Kimberly’s larcenous aunt, while good, could’ve amped up Debra’s brassiness and sheer small-time vulgarity.
Kimberly Akimbo is not to everyone’s tastes; I was surprised by how many people were rather cool to it. But for those who prefer offbeat musicals to all those movie-inspired or jukebox ones, Kimberly was a treat.
[Next at the at the Saenger will be A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical (Nov. 11-16), the true story of how a kid from Brooklyn became a chart-busting, Grammy Award-winning American rock icon (https://www.saengernola.com/events/a-beautiful-noise/). Following Noise will be Back to the Future (Dec. 9-14), the musical adaptation of the classic 1985 movie (https://www.saengernola.com/events/back-to-the-future/). The year winds up with Hell’s Kitchen (Dec. 30-Jan. 4), 16-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys’ autobiographical musical (https://www.saengernola.com/events/hells-kitchen/).]
Curtain Up
For some reason, a quirk of the Gods of Scheduling I suppose, the Boards are fairly light in November. December, however, brings reindeer, nutcrackers and other such seasonal goodies. Read on to help plan your holiday entertainment fare.
The ever-enterprising The Company: A St. Bernard Community Theatre shall be bringing Carrie, The Musical to The Azienda Theatre in Chalmette November 14-23. Based on Stephen King’s novel and the 1976 film, Carrie remains one of Broadway’s most notorious flops but, since its 1988 debut, has gained a cult following. An Off-Broadway revival premiered in 2012 with the book and score almost entirely revised; I believe this will be the version that The Company will be doing.
The leads in this Michael Gore/Dean Pitchford musical are Isabella Rodi as Carrie, Jennifer Landry as Margaret White, Harley Crowe as Chris, Ariana D’Antonio as Sue, Eli Geeting as Tommy, and Roshard Hooper as Billy. Having seen the second performance of Carrie on Broadway–the second act opening number with its refrain of “Kill the pig! Get its blood!” remains particularly ensconced in my memory–I can’t wait to revisit this legendary musical. (https://www.facebook.com/TheCompanySTB)
Unlike Carrie, everyone loves Stevie–Stevie Nicks, that is. The spectacular Night of 1000 Stevies New Orleans–the largest Stevie Nicks fan event in the world–returns for its 5th NOLA edition on November 22 to The AllWays Lounge & Cabaret. Neither a contest nor a karaoke show, NOTS promises the ultimate Stevie Nicks celebration, a profusion of shawls, lace, baby’s breath, twirling, tambourines and a wide range of interpretations of the goddess Nicks by performers from all over the country. (https://1000stevies.com/nots-new-orleans/)
Chi Chi Valenti of Night of 1000 Stevies
For fans of dance, The New Orleans Ballet Association will present BODYTRAFFIC on November 15 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater. The evening will feature a one-of-a-kind performance commemorating the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Trey McIntyre’s Ma Maison. Originally commissioned by NOBA in 2008 as a collaboration between McIntyre and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (PHJB), Ma Maison will be performed with the PHJB live on stage. Also on the program are an excerpt from The Sweeter End and McIntyre’s Mayday, an emotionally charged work set to the iconic music of Buddy Holly. (https://nobadance.com/performances/bodytraffic/)
Marigny Opera Ballet brings WINTERLIGHT to the Marigny Opera House December 5-14. Subtitled “Dancing from Darkness into Light”, this new contemporary ballet choreographed by Christian Denice celebrates the winter holidays’ hope and happiness as a lost and wandering young man encounters a mysterious village enshrouded in twilight mist. The ballet will be accompanied live by New Orleans’ Delachaise Ensemble, performing an evocative collection of Nordic folk music arranged by the Danish String Quartet. (https://marignyoperaballet.org/discover-the-season/)
And New Orleans Ballet Theatre continues its season at The Orpheum Theater with the two-act classic The NutcrackerDecember 13-23, featuring over 120 local children. (https://www.neworleansballettheatre.com/)
On the Northshore, the Kay Butler Performing Arts Project will be offering Jane Martin’s Talking With at the Swamplight Theatre through November 16. Directed by Kendel Smith, it’s a series of touching and funny monologues that each features a different woman who talks about her life. Talking With premiered in New York in 1982 and was hugely popular; it hasn’t been done here in quite a while. “Jane Martin” is actually a pseudonym; the real playwright remains anonymous. (https://www.swamplight.org/)
In Covington, Playmakers Theater kicks off the holiday season with ’Twas the Night Before Christmas. No, not the poem by Clement Moore but the comedy by Ken (Lend Me a Tenor) Ludwig in which not a mouse is stirring because Santa missed this house last year and wild adventures involving a mouse, an elf, and a spunky little girl ensue. Directed by Shelley Meier, ’Twas the Night Before Christmas runs from November 29-December 14. (https://playmakers-theater-05.webself.net/)
30 by Ninety Theatre brings back its annual holiday tradition in Mandeville, A Very Merry Christmas Spectacular (December 5–14), featuring local performers in a festive celebration of song, dance, and seasonal cheer plus complimentary milk & cookies at every performance! (https://30byninety.com/shows/a-very-merry-christmas-spectacular-25/)
Annie? At Christmas? At first I raised my eyebrows but then remembered– Leapin’ Lizards, yes!–that the show’s finale is New Deal for Christmas, led by FDR himself. Directed by Katie Harrison, that lovable little orphan Annie returns to Slidell Little Theatre December 5-21. (https://www.slidelllittletheatre.org/home#)
And back on the Southshore, Jefferson Performing Arts has Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer based on the beloved animated television special at its home on Airline Drive December 5-14. Kris Shaw directs a large cast including Jimmy Murphy, Louis Dudoussat, Allee Peck, and Parker Portera-Dufrene as Rudolph.(https://www.jpas.org/performance/rudolph/)
MerryHappy to all!
