Kimberly Akimbo
I love seeing shows at Scripps Ranch Theater, a tiny place with a huge heart. and a willingness to take risks. This troupe has a remarkable ability to make something out of nothing: No big budget, no big artists, no big venue. Arriving feels more like being invited into a home than it does a big night out. It attracts the kind of audience that claps after every scene.
And the company is willing to take risks. The risk in the case of Kimberly Akimbo was audacious indeed-- unmusical-izing a musical. The risk paid off.
Indeed, having seen the non-musical, it’s difficult to imagine how it even worked as a musical. It’s a weird story that could easily have fallen into bathos (but doesn’t): Kimberly (Debra Wanger) is a 16 y/o who, due to a rare genetic condition, is aging at 4x normal. So, although she looks 64, she has the emotions and attitude of a bright, sarcastic teen. That’s plenty of drama already, but to that is added a totally dysfunctional family that fails her in the most basic ways every day — things like feeding her and keeping her safe.
The acting is solid, and in the case of Jeff (Reden Magtira), truly extraordinary. Jeff is an also-awkward schoolmate who becomes a friend, and it is through his constant, often uncouth questioning that we learn about Kimberly’s disease, her family history, and her interior life.
The cast is rounded out with mom Pattie (Ruth Russell), dad Buddy (Jason Guffey), and Aunt Debra (Katee Drysdale). Mom is heavily pregnant and heavily disappointed in her husband, her daughter, and her life. Dad is an agreeable drunk. The aunt begins as a sympathetic character and a possible ally for Kimberly — but it becomes obvious pretty quickly that despite being the “fun” one, she’s actually a sociopath with a scam for which she needs the teen's help.
In the second act, we get some backstory on the parents and our view shifts from “what jerks!” to “what broken people!” — and that’s a happier view. And the story ends on a high note, with two abnormal teens who are finally having a pretty normal day.
The stagecraft played a pivotal role in the success of this production. A quickly spun wall and a couple of furniture movements revealed entirely new settings. The small space was used very effectively. And there is a fun safari park reveal at the end. Between scenes, we get '90s pop music from the way back machine, which keeps the mood light.
Show Scripps Ranch Theater some love this weekend and spend a couple hours at their place.
— Cherie Peacock
When
Ongoing until Sunday, October 19, 2025
Hours
| Sundays, 2pm |
| Fridays, 7:30pm |
| Saturdays, 7:30pm |