Kimberly Akimbo

A

David Lindsay-Abaire (Good People, Rabbit Hole, Fuddy Meers) and Jeanine Tesori (Caroline, or Change; Fun Home, Violet) have joined forces to turn his early dark comedy into a musical. I am happy to report that the result, now in previews at Atlantic Theater Company, is thoroughly satisfying. Although Kimberly (Victoria Clark; The Light in the Piazza, Sister Act) is just turning 16, a rare illness has aged her at 4 1/2 times normal speed, so she has the mind of a teenager in the body of a 70-year-old. She is further saddled with a dysfunctional family — an alcoholic father, Buddy (Steven Boyer; Hand to God, The Explorers Club), a narcissistic hypochondriac pregnant mother, Pattie (Alli Mauzy; Cry Baby, Wicked) and Debra (Bonnie Milligan; Head over Heels, Gigantic), her sociopathic ex-con aunt. At her New Jersey high school, she forms a friendship with Seth (Justin Cooley), a nerd with a fondness for anagrams. We also meet two mismatched pairs of fellow students — Delia (Olivia Elease Hardy), Martin (Fernell Hogan II; The Prom), Teresa (Nina White) and Aaron (Michael Iskander). All five principals have at least one song that develops their characters. The other songs are all well-integrated into the book to move the plot along. We learn why Kimberly’s family had to move away from Secaucus in the middle of the night. Debra stirs things up with a plan to make some fast money. There is much reason to laugh, but a realization that an underlying sadness is rarely far away. Ms. Clark is, not surprisingly, excellent but Ms.Milligan almost steals the show with her larger-than-life performance. The young actors portraying the sidekicks are all fine. The choreography by Danny Mefford (Fun Home, Dear Evan Hansen) includes a clever ice skating number. David Zinn’s (Fun Home, Choir Boy) unit set effortlessly transforms to several locations. The costumes by Sarah Laux (The Band’s Visit, The Humans) befit the characters well. The direction by Jessica Stone (Dancing at Lughnasa, Absurd Person Singular) is smooth and assured. All in all, it’s a rare treat. It received a standing ovation, which I have not seen before at the Linda Gross Theater. (Running time: 2 1/2 hours including intermission.)

Ripcord ***

Playwright David Lindsay-Abaire has a new addition to his long string of successes at Manhattan Theatre Club. His new comedy stars Marylouise Burke, his oft-time muse, and Holland Taylor (replacing the originally announced Mary Louise Wilson) as Marilyn and Abby, residents of the Bristol Place Assisted Living Facility. Over four years, the unfriendly secretive  Abby has driven away a long string of roommates by her acerbic personality. Her latest, Marilyn, drives her wild with her cheerful gregariousness. Marilyn is quite happy where she is and has no intention of leaving. The roommates make a secret bet: if Abby wins, Marilyn moves out; if Marilyn wins, she gets the bed by the window. The attempt to win leads the pair to increasingly outrageous and hilarious stunts. Marilyn enlists her daughter Cathleen (Rachel Dratch) and son-in-law Derek (Daoud Heidami) in her campaign. Scotty (Nate Miller), a good-natured attendant and would-be actor, tries unsuccessfully to keep the peace. The second act takes on a somewhat darker tone as the competition gets more personal and nastier. A new character, Benjamin (Glenn Fitzgerald) makes an appearance. The resolution was a bit disappointing, to me at least. Burke and Taylor are outstanding as the rival roommates. The supporting cast is strong too. The play resembles Lindsay-Abaire’s early playful works such as “Fuddy Mears” more than his more serious recent plays like “Good People.” David Hyde Pierce has a real knack for directing comedy. Alexander Dodge’s clever scenic design switches seamlessly between their shared room and a few other very different locations. Jennifer von Mayrhauser’s costumes are apt. All in all, it’s a very entertaining, but not very substantial work. Running time: two hours including intermission.