I’m sure this statement will raise a few eyebrows.
The Mirvish website bills Kimberly Akimbo as a deeply moving and wildly funny musical about teenager Kimberly (a spot-on Louise Pitre, who sounds terrific vocally and delivers a genuine, convincing performance) with a rare medical condition. Kimberly navigates family dysfunction, first love and potential felony charges while remaining ever the optimist. Kimberly is determined to find happiness against all odds and embark on a great adventure.
With this brief synopsis as a base, let’s focus first on what is strong about the Toronto production.
The creative team has made excellent choices with this featured dynamic Canadian cast who deliver strong, genuine performances. Some of director Robert MacQueen’s staging remains cleverly inventive, most evident at Skater Planet, where the young teens in the story ice skate.
Pitre is outstanding as the lonely Kimberly, who’s trying to hold it all together and remain positive despite her surroundings and her rare medical condition. I’m choosing not to disclose the condition as that’s part of the initial emotional impact one has to experience live. Let’s just say that at the age of 16, with this particular medical condition, time is of the essence. Pitre’s performance remains subtle and carefully nuanced, with a raw voice of angst when required and a physical stance indicating the passing of time is not going to be good for the young teen.
The three adult figures in Kimberly’s life are portrayed with great aplomb. Tess Benger and Cyrus Lane play Pattie and Buddy, Kimberly’s blue-collar parents, who embody real dysfunction. Pattie is heavily pregnant with another child, while Buddy is gritty and raw. The irony and humour in their situation lie in the fact that Child Protective Services has never been called about the couple. Kristen Peace’s criminal Aunt Debra (Pattie’s sister) is foul-mouthed, sassy and bold. While it may seem disingenuous for the adult Debra to involve young people in the ‘scheme’ at the top of Act 2, I can buy it because she cares about what’s happening to them.
The bonds of friendship between Kimberly and her five misfit friends, Seth (Thomas Winiker), Aaron (Jake Cohen), Martin (Kyle Jonathon), Teresa (Taylor Lovelace) and Delia (Luca McPhee), are sweet and naive. They all have big dreams of staging a Dreamgirls medley at their school to beat their rival high school’s Evita medley. As the story progresses, the audience sees young love blossom between these young people.
Gillian Gallows’ set design, with its nondescript angles and roofs, is a reminder that the musical is set in nondescript-looking New Jersey and why the young people dream of better things for their lives at this particular moment. Andrea Lundy’s lighting design effectively draws attention and creates a distinct ambiance. I liked the lighting at the top of Act 2, when it’s revealed that the young people are doing something they’re not supposed to be doing, which could result in felony charges. Louise Bourret selects appropriate costumes that teenagers would wear. Kudos to Sound Designer Deanna H. Choi’s fastidious work in ensuring dialogue and lyrics can be clearly heard.
Where this opening performance doesn’t really do anything for me is in David Lindsay-Abaire’s book and Jeanine Tesori’s music. While the situation involving Kimberly’s medical condition and family life is sad, neither the book nor the songs allows us to learn anything new about human resilience. Music Director Chris Barillaro’s work in creating lovely harmonies and soaring solo work resonates in the CAA Theatre, but the songs are not memorable the next day. I was hoping there was a list of songs in the programme, so I could do a quick check right at intermission about a musical number. Unfortunately, one can’t do that here and at the particular moment.
I really wanted to be charmed by the entire production (including the book and music), but I wasn’t. Louise Pitre is terrific, as is the supporting cast, and that is why you should see Kimberly Akimbo for their live work.
I’m curious to read and hear if others are of the same mind. While the musical is based on the play by Lindsay-Abaire, I’m curious to hear if anyone has seen it?
Running time: approximately two hours and ten minutes with one interval/intermission.
The production runs to February 8, 2026 at the CAA Theatre, 651 Yonge Street, Toronto. For tickets: mirvish.com or call 1-800-461-3333.
DAVID AND HANNAH MIRVISH present a co-production with the Segal Centre for Performing Arts
KIMBERLY AKIMBO Book and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and Music by Jeanine Tesori.
Directed by Robert McQueen
Musical Director: Chris Barillaro
Choreographer: Allison Plamondon
Set Designer: Gillian Gallow
Costume Designer: Louise Bourret
Lighting Designer: Andrea Lundy
Sound Designer: Deanna H Choi
Stage Manager: Sarah Miller
Performers: Louise Pitre, Tess Benger, Jake Cohen, Kyle Jonathon, Cyrus Lane, Taylor Lovelace, Luca McPhee, Kristen Peace, Thomas Winiker. Standby for Louise Pitre: Tracy Michailidis
