***** Last week, I was fortunate to interview one of the cast members of Broadway In Chicago’s “Kimberly Akimbo” as they headed into town for their Chicago run. In speaking with Jim Hogan ( who plays the father), who has been with the show for awhile, I learned a great deal about this family, the Levacos, and the stories in the play written by  David Lindsay-Abaire ( book/lyrics) and Jeanine Tesori ( music). This is a family that is unique in their secrets.

The basic family that we meet is composed of the father Buddy ( the aforementioned Hogan, who is terrific), a drinker , mom, Pattie ( deftly handled by Laura Woyasz) and of course, Kimberly ( played to perfection by Carolee Carmello). When we first meet Kimberly, you will notice that she appears much older than the other teens at the Skating Rink. This is because she was born with a rare disease known as progeria that causes her to age far more rapidly than her years. In the script, on several occasions  it is mentioned that 16 years is the average life span for people with this condition. Kimberly is about to turn 16 and her family has just moved to the community and a new lifestyle.

The Levaco family has many deep dark secrets which is the reason they have moved to this new community. While all seems normal, with mom being pregnant, yet her hands, due to carpel tunnel are in casts causing her to be quite immobile. We later find out that her pregnancy is one of the family secrets. One more family member is of note, Pattie’s sister, Debra ( Emily Koch nails this one) who has no home, is an ex-convict, and always looks for the easy way to make money.

Kimberly meets Seth ( well played by Miguel Gil) who is another student in her class and works at the skating rink. He is a sort of lost soul with a good heart and despite finding out that Kimberly has this crazy disease, sticks with her, no matter what. The four other performers in this play are also students that are choir members and are preparing to do a “Dreamgirls” medley for the annual show. They are truly a mish-mash of personalities that create the perfect quartet: Grace Capeless, Sky Alyssa Friedman, Darron Hayes and Pierce Wheeler- BRAVO!

I am not one to give away all the sub-plots and incidents in the story, so I will tread lightly here to let you know that Aunt Debra has a plan that will allow her to have money, the quartet to have their costumes and perhaps Kimberly to get to the trip she has always been promised, Great America and more. She has also written a letter to the Make A Wish Foundation asking for a treehouse.

As we learn, Aunt Debra’s plan does work, although it is not legal, yet watching the end of the story, we don’t care about that. We do care about Kimberly finding happiness in her life and gaining the love of Seth ( and getting her first real kiss). By the way, in science, the kids are given diseases to take on and Kimberly and Seth opt to do hers. Seth is an anagram nut and creates the anagram “Cleverly Akimbo” from her full name, which I suppose reflects on the title of the play.

On the tech side I think Jessica Stone’s direction was sharp and defined. There are no slow spots or hesitations and the set (David Zinn) is quite amazing in how quickly we cna go from home to school to ice rink. The skating choreography ( Danny Mefford) is terrific and although I know they are not on ice, it sure looked real. This is a different type of coming of age story than we are used to, but it is definitely understandable why this play won five Tony Awards. The music works to tell the story and while it fits well, I for one, did not find myself caught up or humming any tunes.

“Kimberley Akimbo” will continue  thru June 22nd with performances as follows: