A guide to all the songs in 'Kimberly Akimbo'

Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay Abaire's Tony Award-winning musical is coming to London's Hampstead Theatre.

Summary

• Tony Award-winning musical Kimberly Akimbo is coming to the Hampstead Theatre in London
• The story centres on a girl with a rare genetic condition
• The show has wonderful songs by Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire

One of the most exciting Broadway imports this year is Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay Abaire’s cult-favourite musical Kimberly Akimbo, which is making its European debut at London’s Hampstead Theatre. The show won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Original Score.

The remarkable premise of the story is that the titular heroine has a rare genetic disease which makes her age four and a half times faster than normal. She has problems with her eccentric, dysfunctional family too. But she bonds with the other teenagers at her new school, and Kim’s condition ultimately makes everyone reflect on what they really want out of life.

As you plan your trip to Kimberly Akimbo, get to know the show’s award-winning songs.

Book Kimberly Akimbo tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

“Skater Planet”

This ensemble number introduces our group of teenagers at a skating rink: Kimberly, plus Seth, Martin, Aaron, Teresa, and Delia. They all have various frustrations or feel like misfits, and they all have unrequited feelings for someone else in the group. Straight away, we can see how Kim – though in an unusual situation – isn’t alone.

“Hello, Darling”

Kim’s mother Pattie is pregnant. She creates a video for her soon-to-be-born baby, which also helps us learn more about that: that she has carpal tunnel syndrome after spending 16 years working in a cupcake factory, and she worries that one day, people might tell her child lies about her.

“Make a Wish”

After her drunken father Buddy drives her home, Kim decides to write a letter to the Make A Wish Foundation. She shares three wishes: to be a model for a day, to go on a cruise on a fancy yacht, and a treehouse, then follows those up with more outlandish asks, and finally with the poignant request to just live “like normal people live”.

“Anagram”

Kim partners up with Seth for a biology project and the pair gently begin to flirt in this sweet number. He creates an anagram of her name, which charms her, especially the way he thinks “outside the box / A little odd, a little off / A bit unorthodox”.

“Better”

Kim’s chaotic and criminal aunt, Debra, suddenly shows up: she’s been sleeping in the school library. Debra tries to convince Kim and her friends to join in her moneymaking scheme, arguing that you’ve got to “grab life by the balls”. She also shares some of her previous half-baked plots, but ultimately makes an irresistible case.

“Father Time”

Pattie is horrified when Debra shows up at their house, still intent on her scheme. Pattie sings a beautiful, wistful lullaby, which she once sang to Kim, and is now for her new baby, praying for another day.

“Happy For Her”

It’s Kim’s 16th birthday – the age at which she was predicted to die due to her disease. She’s happy though because she’s with Seth, until Buddy, who’s driving them to school, humiliates her by getting uncomfortable about them flirting and yelling at Seth: “You’re not getting in her pants.”

“This Time”

The teenagers at back at Skater Planet – this time throwing Kim a surprise birthday party, arranged by Seth. Her family come too, and promise to behave better as their gifts. Delia reveals that their show choir can’t get costumes because of a lack of funds, which allows Debra to pitch her scheme again. Everyone wishes for a better future.

“How to Wash a Check”

Debra teaches the teenagers how to wash a check – basically taking checks out of the mailbox using a glue trap and rewriting them so as to divert the funds. The kids struggle in this farcical set-piece, but eventually get the hang of it.

“Good Kid”

Seth gets a solo number, musing about how his brother was always the wild one and he was the good kid. But what has being good and quiet gotten him? Maybe being a little bit bad, like “Frodo Baggins” or “Robin Hood”, could actually benefit him.

“Hello, Baby”

Buddy is struggling to keep his promise to do better – not drink as much and stick to his exercise plan – so he borrows Pattie’s video camera to record a message for the baby. He reveals that he never imagined becoming a father, until Pattie got pregnant with Kim, and advises his child to take their time before they settle down.

“Our Disease”

In biology class, everyone does a presentation, with Aaron and Martin doing scurvy, Delia and Teresa fasciolosis, and Kim and Seth presenting Kim’s disease. But she gets upset as she reflects that while “getting older is my affliction”, for the anxious adolescents, getting older “is your cure”.

“The Inevitable Turn”

During a fraught family dinner, secrets and resentments spill out. Debra reveals that Buddy paid her to beat up their old neighbour, Mr. Zwicky, because he and Pattie had had sex. Pattie reveals that she did it because she was scared the next baby would have the same condition as Kim. A distraught Kim collapses.

“Now”

Kim’s family sit with her in the hospital, and Pattie tells her the Make A Wish Foundation is going to build her a treehouse. But when Seth visits, she’s inspired to throw caution to the wind and live in the moment: they’re going to do Debra’s check-washing scheme, no matter the risks.

“Before I Go”

After taking part in the fraud, Kim returns home with money, which she plans on using for a family road trip, and finds her parents have replaced her bed with the new baby’s crib. She tells them to let go of “the ghost of a girl I’ll never be”, and just see her as she is now, while she’s still alive. She also tells the foundation she doesn’t need a treehouse – she’s going to see the world.

“Hello, Sister” / “Great Adventure”

Kim and Seth take their own road trip to Six Flags Great Adventure. Kim makes a video message for her baby sister, and the pair kiss. We also see how the rest of the group are living their lives to the fullest, with the teens performing in the show choir, Debra getting a proper job, and Pattie and Buddy bonding with the new baby.

Main photo credit: Kimberly Akimbo show logo (Courtesy of the production). Inset: Kimberley Akimbo on Broadway (Photo by Joan Marcus)