Ottawa theatre lovers, this one's for you — Ottawa Little Theatre is currently running Kimberly Akimbo, the quirky, darkly funny coming-of-age play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, and it's the kind of production that stays with you long after the curtain falls.
What's It About?
Set in the early 1990s, Kimberly Akimbo follows Kimberly, a sharp-witted teenage girl dealing with a rare genetic condition that causes her body to age far faster than it should. By sixteen, she looks like a woman in her seventies. But that's just the beginning of her problems — her family is a spectacular disaster of dysfunction, and her scheming aunt has just arrived with a get-rich-quick scheme that pulls Kimberly into chaos she didn't sign up for.
What makes the play work so beautifully is that it refuses to be just one thing. It's funny — genuinely, laugh-out-loud funny — and then it turns around and breaks your heart. Lindsay-Abaire (who also wrote Rabbit Hole, another gut-punch of a play) has a gift for finding dark absurdity in everyday suffering, and this production leans into that gift fully.
Ottawa Little Theatre Does It Justice
Ottawa Little Theatre, one of the oldest community theatres in North America, has long been a cornerstone of the city's arts scene, and this production is a strong reminder of why it matters. The casting and staging bring out the play's emotional complexity without ever tipping into melodrama.
The performer playing Kimberly — portrayed as an older woman despite being a teenager, thanks to her condition — anchors the whole show. It's a physically and emotionally demanding role, and the performance reportedly lands every beat: the wry humour, the quiet longing, the moments of unexpected grace.
The supporting cast brings the chaotic family to life with equal commitment. The aunt, in particular, is a scene-stealer — equal parts menace and absurdity.
Why You Should Go
If you haven't been to Ottawa Little Theatre lately, Kimberly Akimbo is a great reason to go back. The play won the Tony Award for Best Musical when it was adapted for Broadway in 2023 — but the original play form, which is what OLT is staging, is rawer and more intimate. No show-stopping numbers, just sharp dialogue and characters you won't forget.
It's the kind of theatre that Ottawa's community scene does best: ambitious material, committed performers, and a story that actually has something to say about what it means to be alive in a body that doesn't cooperate, in a family that doesn't quite function, trying to find joy anyway.
Details
- Where: Ottawa Little Theatre, 400 King Edward Ave, Ottawa
- Running now — check Ottawa Little Theatre's website for showtimes and tickets
- Recommended for: Fans of dark comedy, coming-of-age stories, and theatre that doesn't talk down to its audience
Don't sleep on this one, Ottawa — shows like this are exactly what community theatre is for.
Source: Ottawa Life Magazine
