Nancy Marcy

Kimberly’s 16th birthday is fast approaching and her dysfunctional family provides cold comfort. The clan has recently relocated to a small New Jersey town and Kimberly is mistaken for a lunch lady at her new school.

But luckily, Kimberly finds a friend in Jeff (Sam Cordes), a nerdy lad who not only doesn’t seem to mind her affliction; he’s fascinated by it. In fact, he talks her into letting him write a school report about her disease.

Things are less than ideal at home. Kimberly’s dad, Buddy (Scott Cordes), is a gas jockey and irresponsible drunk who can never manage to get home on time.

Her neglectful and self-absorbed mother, Pattie (Jan Chapman), is pregnant and has thick bandages on both hands as she recovers from carpel tunnel surgery.

Pattie spends her time making tape recordings for her soon-to-be-born child, whom she sees as Kimberly’s replacement.

Things are further complicated when Kimberly’s homeless Aunt Debra (Missy Koonce) shows up unexpectedly. She talks Kimberly and Jeff into aiding her in a get-rich-quick check-washing scheme.

The characters and plot complications in “Kimberly Akimbo” may sound like something out of Eugene O’Neill, but while Lindsay-Abaire has some serious minded aspirations, his main intention here is to find the humor in the situation. For the most part, he does.

Directors Bob and Karen Paisley draw sound performances from their cast members and establish a pleasing pace, even though the set changes are occasionally a bit lengthy.

“Kimberly Akimbo” examines the “diseases” we often use as excuses for our own failure to use our time on Earth wisely. Thankfully, the humor makes that sobering revelation a bit easier to take.

“Kimberly Akimbo” runs through Jan. 24 at the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, 3604 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. For tickets, call (816) 569-3226 or visit www.metkc.org.

THEATER NOTES

The Barn Players will present four performances of a “Barn Jr.” production of the musical “The Wiz,” featuring Kansas City area junior high and high school students.

This hip musical version of L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” features a mix of rock, gospel and soul music. The show will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 15-16 and 2 p.m. Jan. 16-17 at the Barn Players Theatre, 6219 Martway, Mission.

For tickets, call 432-9100 or visit www.thebarnplayers.org.

Padgett Productions will present the Kansas City professional premiere of “Little Women: The Musical” Jan. 8-24 at the H&R Block City Stage at Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road, Kansas City, Mo.

Allan Knee has adapted the script from Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel and the play features music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein. Linda Ade Brand handles the directing chores.

For tickets, call (816) 460-2020 or visit www.unionstation.org/littlewomen.html.