Kimberly Akimbo

by David Lindsay-Abaire
Directed by Emma Love

Set in the quirky suburbs of New Jersey, 'Kimberly Akimbo' is a poignant and uproarious play that follows the life of a teenager named Kimberly who suffers from a rare condition that causes her body to age faster than normal. As she navigates the challenges of her unconventional family dynamics, including a hypochondriac mother, a frequently intoxicated father, and a scheming aunt with a penchant for scams, Kimberly grapples with her own mortality and the complexities of first love.

With a blend of humor and heartache, 'Kimberly Akimbo' offers a unique and thought-provoking exploration of family, mortality, and the human experience. David Lindsay-Abaire's masterful storytelling creates a compelling and unforgettable journey for Kimberly as she searches for meaning amidst the chaos of her unpredictable world.

 

Playwright

David Lindsay-Abaire

David Lindsay-Abaire is a highly acclaimed Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, screenwriter, lyricist, and librettist. His work has been recognized on Broadway and beyond, with plays like 'Good People,' which won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play and received two Tony nominations, and 'Rabbit Hole,' which earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and five Tony nominations. Lindsay-Abaire's impressive body of work also includes plays like 'Ripcord,' 'Fuddy Meers,' 'Kimberly Akimbo,' 'Wonder of the World,' and 'A Devil Inside,' among others.

In addition to his success in the theater world, Lindsay-Abaire has made his mark in screenwriting with credits including the film adaptation of his own play 'Rabbit Hole,' Dreamworks' 'Rise of the Guardians,' and 'The Family Fang,' among others. Notably, 'Kimberly Akimbo,' one of his plays, was also adapted into a musical of the same name that premiered on Broadway in 2022 to critical acclaim.

With his numerous accolades and diverse body of work, David Lindsay-Abaire continues to be a highly respected and accomplished figure in both the theater and screenwriting realms

 

Director

Emma Love

Emma has been involved in theatres throughout Auckland, for many years. She has previously been on stage at Dolphin in Spirit Level, Curtain Up, Goodnight Mr Tom, Oliver Twist and Looking. In 2022, she directed Steel Magnolias at Papakura Theatre Company, which won ACTT Awards for Best Direction and Best Production. She is grateful to Dolphin Theatre for giving her the opportunity to be part of this beautiful play.

Director’s Notes

As a long-time fan of David Lindsay-Abaire, I am excited to bring Kimberly Akimbo to the stage. As I took the deep dive into this script, I’ve discovered a gift that keeps on giving. It’s complex, honest and deeply human.

The characters in this play are flawed, complicated and completely disfunctional, all of them, in different ways finding themselves trapped in lives where dreams seem impossible. It’s a sad story and yet, there is so much humanity and hope, plus, it’s clever, witty and laugh-out-loud funny.

Ultimately, Kimberly Akimbo is a play about how we choose to live our lives in the time that we have and making the most of it. It’s sad, funny, heart-warming, unexpected, uplifting, powerful and ultimately beautiful theatre.

I have been extremely lucky to have this hugely talented, hardworking, and really lovely cast, who have brought this gem of a play to life. I’m also very grateful for the huge team of dedicated and talented designers and crew. I sincerely hope you all enjoy it as much as we have.

 
 
 

CAST

 

Penal Keegan

What a joy it is to be back on stage again  - and with such an awesome group of people.  I was nervous about auditioning for such a challenging role and was amazed and thrilled when Emma cast me.  This old girl has been round the traps for a while - both directing and acting and the role of Kimberly is the icing on the cake.

 

Romain Mereau

Romain is a graduate of Atlantic Acting School in New York. He was recently in Masked Productions’ The Way We Get By at the PumpHouse Theatre; The Country House, Arcadia and 3 Women at Dolphin Theatre; and The Girl on the Train at Howick Little Theatre. When he’s not on stage, Romain works as a Sustainability Manager, and can also be found doing yoga, watching films, making art and eating tacos. He’s delighted to be playing part of Kimberly’s dysfunctional family in this wonderfully written play.

 

Ruth Edgar

I am humbled to join this amazing cast in my debut role at Dolphin Theatre. I have been involved theatre across Auckland over the past decade both on and off stage. My favourite roles were Detective Gaskill in “Girl on the train” and Fran in “Home I’m Darling” at HLT and everything at Hunua Theatre. Becoming Pattie has been so much fun, from the language, the behaviour to the accent -I can’t think why I was cast in this role! Thank you to Emma Love and the crew at Dolphin. I hope you enjoy this show as much a Pattie loves those “cabbages” from Mr Hicks.

 
 

Sheree Veysey

Sheree Veysey returns to the stage after a long hiatus to play the irrepressible Debra.

She is delighted to be able to help bring to life such a layered, funny and moving script.

When not on the stage Sheree pursues other creative pursuits as a writer and songwriter, and is passionate about her day job in mental health. "I guess connecting with people and understanding emotions and motivations are the threads

 

Benjamin Wickers

Benjamin has been a performer since a very young age. But the nurturing of his passion began seriously in high school, engaging in school productions. Throughout and after high school he has participated in many productions including Dark Road (2019), Cinderella (2019), The Lonely Hour (2020), Babble (2020) for the Auckland Arts Festival, and Annie (2022). After a minor dry spell in acting during Covid-19, Benjamin is ready to dive back into the scene with his second production since with his Cleverly Akimbo castmates. He has had a blast bringing Jeff from paper to stage and hopes you enjoy it