43
Portrayals make ‘Akimbo’ beautiful
By LorRaine wardle
YOUNGSTOWN
Kimberly Levaco has a rare disease that causes her body to age four and a half times the normal rate. She won’t live far past 16. And that’s the least of her problems.
Kim is the central character of “Kimberly Akimbo,” the latest production at the Oakland Center for the Arts.
The play by David Lindsay-Abaire is a poignant and funny look into the complicated life of a young woman who is forced to grow up — literally — before her peers.
As if a fatal disease isn’t enough, Kim must also deal with an alcoholic father, a pregnant hypochondriac mother, and a criminal aunt. And then there’s high school.
In fact, there is so much going on in this play, the fact that Kim has a disease hardly matters.
The beauty of Lindsay-Abaire’s script is in his development of each character.
At first glance, the play may seem like an “afterschool special,” focusing on how the characters deal with the disease. But this play is about so much more: the family dynamic and the characters’ relationships.
His treatment of the characters delivers a realistic and beautiful play.
The play takes place in New Jersey in the late winter, on and around Kim’s 16th birthday. It moves quickly, as Kim deals with her impending mortality and her crazy family.
Director Cleric Costes’ staging gives the play a quick pace while his cast brings their characters to life.
The play would never work without a believable Kim, and this is where Costes lucked out.
Molly Galano is one of the area’s finest actresses, and she does not disappoint. Galano’s Kim is sweet, sincere and completely believable. A lesser actress would have played Kim as a caricature — an impression of a typical teenager. But, Galano’s performance is so subtle and nuanced you forget she isn’t actually a teen.
From her posture and facial expressions to her spot-on line delivery, Galano’s Kim is perfect — full of angst, emotion and, remarkably, hope.
Though Kim is the central part of the play, the rest of the ensemble cast is equally essential.
John Cox plays Kim’s father, Buddy, an alcoholic who wants to give his family a good life. Again, this character could have been a stereotype, but Cox plays Buddy with such depth and sincerity, the audience is full of empathy for him.
As Kim’s mother Pattie, Liz Conrad does an excellent job with a difficult character.
Pattie is so self-centered and neurotic, she has few redeeming characteristics. But Conrad’s performance was convincing: full of emotion and authenticity. Kim’s aunt Debra, played with confidence by Brandy Johanngtes, shows up to complicate Kim’s life even more.
Johanngtes holds nothing back as the bold, brash and unapologetic Debra, making every scene hilarious.
Completing the cast is Dylan White as Jeff, Kim’s classmate.
White’s Jeff is an awkward, nervous nerd — perhaps even more of an outsider than Kim. White’s performance is sweet and genuine, comical without being ridiculous.