In this Q&A, Kimberly Akimbo Musical Director, Kym Purling, discusses the musical styles and instruments in the show, as well as how contrast and cohesion are manipulated through music.
What is the world of Kimberly Akimbo?
Kimberly Akimbo tells the story of a young high school girl living with a rare genetic disease similar to Progeria, a disease which affects just one in 18 million people and where Kimberly ages 5–6 times faster than other people. Her life in New Jersey is one of struggle, largely due to a dysfunctional family life, while Kimberly herself is someone with an ambitious, positive and mature outlook on life, despite her knowing she does not have long to live. It's a story of family, love, life and making the most out of every day.
How would you describe the musical style? What kinds of instruments are used?
The score is a real cross-section of music from poignant ballads to bluesy upbeat numbers and everything in between. There are a number of solo songs that allow the audience to understand what's going on ‘inside the heads’ of the characters and there are also a number of rousing numbers featuring the full cast. The score has no brass but two demanding woodwind chairs where two musicians need to cover flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, soprano sax, baritone sax, oboe and even bassoon. The guitarist also doubles a lot having to cover electric guitar, steel guitar, acoustic guitar, nylon string guitar, dobro, ukulele and banjo. We also have two keyboardists (I conduct the show and play 1st Keyboard), and between the keyboard scores we have a total of almost 300 sound patch changes throughout the show. The drummer plays full drum kit and also doubles on various percussion instruments from triangle to shakers and from eastern finger cymbals, crotales and glockenspiel to African djembe. The other musicians are a cellist and bassist who plays upright and electric.
What’s an example of contrast within the music in this show?
The best two songs that show contrast in the score are probably 'Father Time' and 'Better'. 'Father Time' is the softest and prettiest song in the show sung by Pattie on her own with minimal orchestration. 'Better' is the biggest number in the show with Debra belting out a bluesy rock number with the cast singing gospel choir type backing vocals throughout.
Watch the video below to hear 'Better' sung by the cast. Content warning: contains coarse language.
What’s an example of cohesion within the music?
The opening number of the show, 'Skater Planet', contains a very distinctive and memorable musical theme sung by quartet of teens that reoccurs a handful of times throughout the show during scene some scene changes and musical transitions. The ukulele also features a groove that at times provokes more relaxed and light-hearted moments in the show.
Casey Donovan with the Kimberly Akimbo cast in rehearsal. Photo: Claudio Raschella
What role does the music play in the storytelling?
The music is pivotal in the storytelling because it brings the stories, themes and characters of the show to life. The music adds depth and dimension to these stories told by each character and allows the audience to feel the emotions expressed by each character.
How do you collaborate with the director?
I work closely with the director (Mitchell Butel) for many reasons, the most important being to ensure that we stay true to the intentions of the writers (book and score) of the show. During the rehearsal period, the director and I stay finely tuned to one another to shape the cast in their respective roles, allowing them some freedom to interpret the material in their own way, while offering direction to best tell the stories of the songs. This direction from us both focus on everything from subtle changes in tempo, timing, pitch and expression to what works physically and vocally for the actors' own vocal ability. The director and I also navigate together through every aspect of the show musically from the cast songs to the movement of set pieces moving on and offstage. We have to marry every aspect of the show together seamlessly.