Posts Tagged ‘david lindsay-abaire’

“Kimberly Akimbo” at the Fox is a Lively, Unconventional Story

Posted in St Louis Theatre, USA Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , on March 27, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Kimberly Akimbo
Book and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, Music by Jeanine Tesori
Directed by Jessica Stone
Choreographed by Danny Mefford
The Fox Theatre
March 25, 2025

Cast of Kimberly Akimbo
Photo by Joan Marcus
Kimberly Akimbo US Tour

Kimberly Akimbo is a much-lauded musical that won various accolades for its Broadway run, including the Tony Award for Best Musical. When I heard the tour was coming to the Fox, I was especially looking forward to seeing it, since I had heard so many good things about it. After seeing this unique, small-ish show with big ambitions, I can say that, for the most part, it lives up to the hype, at least in terms of quality. I have a few reservations about some of the characters and plot itself, but there’s no denying that this show has a lot of enthusiasm and heart, and the tour has a truly wonderful cast. 

Kimberly (Carolee Carmello) is a teenage girl with a rare genetic condition that makes her age rapidly so that she looks like an older woman. She has recently moved to a new town in New Jersey with her parents, Pattie (Laura Woyasz)–who is expecting a new baby–and Buddy (Jim Hogan). She also has a shady Aunt Debra (Emily Koch), who her parents are trying to flee, but who manages to find them. Kim attends high school and goes skating at a local skating rink, forming a friendship with the geeky Seth (Miguel Gil) in the process. There’s also a group of teens involved in the school show choir (Grace Capeless as Delia, Darron Hayes as Martin, Skye Alyssa Friedman as Teresa, and Pierce Wheeler as Aaron) who soon become closer with Kim and Seth and get roped into Debra’s latest “slightly illegal” scheme. As Kim approaches her 16th birthday and the parents await a new baby, and the teenagers wait to grow up so they can move on from the awkward high school years, the plot tension grows as Debra continues to scheme but Kim has her own ideas of how to go about it. 

The overall themes of aging–and the fact that the most immature characters are the adults, who seem to have more lessons to learn than the teens–work in with the overall “make the most of your life while you’re living it” theme, and there are some especially insightful moments particularly between Kim, Seth, and the other teenagers. The adult characters can be difficult to like, considering how self-focused they are–but they do have their moments as well. Some of the biggest musical moments are from Debra, and the talented Koch makes the most of these moments with an excellent, powerful voice and strong comic timing, but I do find her plot a bit unsatisfying ultimately, and find myself hoping that Buddy and Pattie–also excellently played by Hogan and Woyasz–do become better parents in the future. Still, the real heart of this show is Kim, Seth, and their high school classmates, and casting there is also fantastic. Carmello makes me forget she’s not actually 16 for most of the play, with her quirky, persistent hopefulness and determination. She’s also well-matched by Gil in a goofily charming turn as Seth. Capeless, Hayes, Friedman, and Wheeler are also marvelous and relatable as the show-choir kids, with strong harmonies in the musical numbers. Also, Danny Mefford’s clever choreography adds a gawky energy to the teens’ dance numbers that’s effectively in keeping with their characters and story.

The set, by David Zinn, is detailed and dynamic, aided by Lucy McKinnon’s video design. There are also colorful, characterful costumes by Sarah Laux, and strong hair, wig, and makeup design by J. Jared Janas. Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew’s lighting is also fantastic, but there are some difficulties with the sound in moments. The orchestra, led by conductor Leigh Delano, lends energy and emotion to the memorable Jeanine Tesori score, as well.

Overall, Kimberly Akimbo is a fascinating, entertaining show with a fantastic score and a great cast. I find it difficult to care much about the adult characters at times, but the teen characters are its heart and soul, especially Kimberly herself. There are many relatable high school moments here, and the themes of making the most of life and taking responsibility are important. I can see why it has resonated with so many fans. I’m glad I was able to see this fantastic touring production at the Fox. 

Carolee Carmello, Miguel Gil
Photo by Joan Marcus
Kimberly Akimbo US Tour

The US Tour of Kimberly Akimbo is playing at the Fox Theatre until April 6, 2025

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“Ripcord” is a Well-Cast, Fast Paced Comedy from Stray Dog Theatre

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , on June 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Ripcord
by David Lindsay-Abaire
Directed by Gary F. Bell
Stray Dog Theatre
June 8, 2024

Jan Mantovani, Annie Bayer
Photo by John Lamb
Stray Dog Theatre

Stray Dog Theatre’s latest production is a showcase for two first-rate comic performances, along with a strong supporting cast in an increasingly madcap series of situations. Directed by artistic director Gary F. Bell, David Lindsay-Abaire’s Ripcord is a hilarious, fast-paced, character-driven comedy that explores issues of aging, personality conflicts, grief and regret, and more. It’s a small show with a big sense of humor, and a good deal of action.

The story, set at the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility, follows the curmudgeonly, reclusive Abby (Annie Bayer), and the more outgoing, bubbly Marilyn (Jan Mantovani), who are unlikely roommates. Abby complains to staff member Scotty (Victor Mendez), that she’s used to having the room to herself, and she wants Marilyn to be moved to another room. The facility’s new superintendent seems to be against this idea, and as the two roommates continue to clash, they come up with an idea: a bet. The upbeat Marilyn is challenged to frighten the stoic Abby, while Abby’s goal is to make Marilyn angry. The “prize” for Abby is that Marilyn would move out, and if Marilyn wins, she gets the bed closer to the window. This bet sets the plot in motion, in which a series of increasingly wild happenings ensue, including the involvement of Marilyn’s daughter Colleen (Donna Parrone), son-in-law Derek (Matt Anderson), and son Lewis (Jeremy Goldmeier), as well as another important character named Benjamin (also Goldmeier).  As the situations get more and more unusual–and dangerous–the audience is made to wonder exactly how this bet is going to end, and whether the women will emerge from this series of events as friends or enemies. 

This is a funny show, with a good deal of laugh-out-loud humor, but also a more poignant side as both of the main characters have hidden depths. The complexity of the characters is conveyed well by Bayer as the initially difficult to like Abby–who is insistent on pushing away anyone who tries to get close–and Mantovani as the almost too-chipper Marilyn, who has her own reasons for being so insistently positive. These two characters are the heart of the show, and both performers shine, working together well and conveying a believable competitive energy. Mendez is also excellent as the likable and often exasperated Scotty. There is also strong support from Parrone and Anderson as the helpful Colleen and Derek, and Goldmeier in a dual role that proves to be integral to the story.

The play fills out the stage at Tower Grove Abbey with a suitably realistic set by Rob Lippert, and excellent evocative lighting by Tyler Duenow. The lighting, as well as the sound by Justin Been, is put to excellent use in some especially memorable scenes, such as a Halloween “haunted house” that Scotty is a part of, and another inventively staged “action” scene later. The costumes by Colleen Michelson are well suited to the characters, with the haunted house scene also being a fun highlight in this respect. 

Overall, Ripcord is a well-plotted show that portrays the ups and downs of aging and personality conflicts in memorable fashion. At SDT, the show is brought to life with truly marvelous performances from the two leads, who make a credibly hilarious dualling duo. With a strong supporting cast and fast-paced staging, this is a thoroughly entertaining, thought-provoking play.

Matt Anderson, Victor Mendez, Jan Mantovani, Annie Bayer
Photo by John Lamb
Stray Dog Theatre

Stray Dog Theatre is presenting Ripcord at Tower Grove Abbey until June 22, 2024

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SDT’s “Good People” Showcases Strong Lead Performances

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , on February 24, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Good People
by David Lindsay-Abaire
Directed by Gary F. Bell
Stray Dog Theatre
February 19, 2022

Stephen Henley, Liz Mischel, Stephanie Merritt, Lavonne Byers
Photo by John Lamb
Stray Dog Theatre

Stray Dog Theatre’s latest production is an intriguing, compelling piece that features a vivid depiction of its characters and setting. Playwright David Linsday-Abaire’s Good People is a prime example of a thoughtfully-written play that finds its heart and resonance in its sense of detail and rich portrayal of a specific locality and the people who inhabit it. It’s also an excellent showcase for a strong cast, and especially in its leading role. 

This is a play about character, but also about class distinctions, and the conflicts and issues that can be stirred up in their comparison. The story centers on Margaret “Margie” Walsh (Lavonne Byers), who is a lifelong resident of Boston’s working-class “Southie” neighborhood. As the play begins, her boss, Stevie (Stephen Henley), breaks the bad news to her that he has to let her go from her job at a convenience store due to chronic lateness. The ever-determined Margie doesn’t go out without a fight, and she’s got a good reason to be late, as she has difficulty getting consistent care for her developmentally challenged adult daughter, Joyce, who is much talked about but not seen onstage. Eventually, she’s resigned to her fate, but determined and even desperate to find a new job, under pressures from her passive-aggressive landlady Dottie (Liz Mischel) that she might lose her apartment if she can’t keep up with the rent. Soon, Margie’s longtime friend, the no-nonsense Jean (Stephanie Merritt), suggests that Margie look up their childhood friend Mike (Stephen Peirick)–who Margie briefly dated years ago–in hopes that he might be able to offer her a job. Mike has recently returned to Boston after years out of town, having built up a career as a successful fertility doctor, now living in the upscale Chestnut Hill neighborhood. Their reunion stirs up a lot of old tensions, especially for Mike, who insists he’s the same as he always was, but who takes pride in having “gotten out” of the old neighborhood, and has things he hasn’t told his wife, Kate (Laurell Stevenson) that Margie brings into the light. Margie, for her part, also has some things she hasn’t told Mike. Over the course of the show, from Southie to Chestnut Hill, from a swanky doctor’s office to Bingo night with a usual crowd, this show highlights the differences between situations while dealing with issues of friendship, loyalty, deception, class distinctions, racism (both subtle and blatant), and more. 

The tone tends to be comedic much of the time, with forays into the the dramatic and some darker undertones, and the characters are vividly drawn, and the sense of history is clearly apparent, between Margie and her neighborhood friends, to the strained dynamic between Mike and Kate, and the backstories that are revealed slowly but surely. It’s a briskly paced play, with a tone and setting that are as well-drawn as the characters. As produced at SDT, it’s a showcase for a great cast, led by the always excellent Byers in a superbly complex performance as Margie. As gifted with comedy as she is with drama, this is an ideal role for Byers, who gets to use her sharp sense of wit and timing along with a compelling emotional range. Byers also gets great support from the rest of the cast, from the quirkiness of Mischel’s Dottie, to Merritt’s tough-talking Jean, to Henley’s conflicted but well-meaning Stevie. Peirick and Stevenson are also excellent as Mike and Kate, highlighting their complex relationship and different approaches toward Margie.

Josh Smith’s set, consisting largely of a series of doors and occasional necessary furniture, provides a good backdrop to the action here. The character’s personalities are also well represented by way of director Bell’s excellent costumes. There’s also excellent work from lighting designer Tyler Duenow and sound designer Justin Been, as the technical elements work together well to maintain the atmosphere and mood of the play.

Good People is more than a good play. It’s a thoughtful, sometimes witty, sometimes intense play in which the characters and the setting feel authentic. The cast, and especially Byers, also make the most of the piece. It’s both entertaining and challenging, With only one more weekend of performances left, it’s certainly worth checking out.

Lavonne Byers, Laurell Stevenson, Stephen Peirick
Photo by John Lamb
Stray Dog Theatre

Stray Dog Theatre is presenting Good People at Tower Grove Abbey until February 26, 2022

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