"Kimberly Akimbo' at Theatre Horizon

Kimberly Akimbo, by the esteemed David Lindsay-Abaire, portrays a dysfunctional family with an irresponsible alcoholic father, a crude and complaining mother and a criminal aunt. The daughter says they're all "freaks."

Shining through this detritus is a sympathetic teenager with an illness that makes her grow old more than four times faster than other people, so at age 16 she's already experienced menopause and is showing the frailties of old age. Sixteen is the age at which most other victims die, and Kimberley's family shrinks from confronting this prospect.

Her parents and aunt, unstable people to start with, react really badly to Kimberly's condition. Kimberly's aunt takes especial advantage of the situation when she plots a crime that depends on Kimberly's impersonating an old woman.

Black comedy with heartbreak too

What we have here is a black comedy with some heartbreak and dangerous plot twists thrown in. Director Matthew Decker and his cast performed it splendidly. This production is fortunate to have the talents of Maureen Torsney-Weir, an experienced actress who often plays elderly women on stage. She convincingly portrays the mannerisms of a teenager, and touches our hearts with the way she faces life.

Yet with all its merits, the script is highly contrived. We can see situations being set up, questions raised and answers withheld until it arrives at an artificial climax.

To be sure, I attended this play during the same 24-hour period when I also saw a gentle exploration of Northern Ireland (The Carthaginians) and a stark portrayal of a mass murderer (Christie in Love). In comparison, Lindsay-Abaire's creation seems less impressive than if I saw it standing alone.

Befriending a nerd

Lindsay-Abaire cleverly makes us aware of Kimberly's age and condition, and efficiently maneuvers us through the details of the plot. But the only times I felt real emotion were when poor Kimberly was front and center. Many of her most affecting scenes occur when she befriends a nerdy but sweet boy classmate from high school.

The cast, with Alex Keiper, Rob Kahn, Marybeth Gorman and Corey Regensburg supporting Torsney-Weir, has no weak spot. Matthew Decker's direction is clear and uncluttered. It's a major achievement when he makes us realize that every character in the play is disabled by some malady. Most of them cope ineffectually, except for Kimberly.