In a recent article, I complained that too much entertainment proclaims a message of gloom and doom. As if in direct response to this, the Arts Club is now presenting Kimberly Akimbo at the Stanley Theatre, a musical that is wildly—indeed extravagantly—optimistic.

Its title character, Kimberly, is suffering from progeria, a disease that causes the victim to age several times faster than normal, with an average life expectancy of less than 20 years.

Presumably because of her aged appearance, Kimberly has found social acceptance only with a group of societal misfits—insecure, nerdy, or simply suffering from adolescent angst. As if this were not enough, Kimberly, who is turning 16, has a father who is an alcoholic; a mother whom Kimberly compares to Medea and who has been made pregnant by a neighbour in an attempt to avoid having a second child with the same disease as Kimberly; and an aunt who has a criminal record. It is a veritable social worker’s paradise.

The remarkable thing is that the show—a musical—is determinedly optimistic, with lots of lively, catchy music and a continually humorous book. To further balance things out, there are a number of gentle, touching songs and scenes, giving the show additional emotional appeal.

The result of all this is that the audience has a wonderfully entertaining time—though, clearly, it requires one to suspend one’s disbelief and simply embrace the ultimate optimism of the work.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the character of Kimberly. Her sweet optimism may be possible, but that, as her body ages to that of a 70‑year‑old woman, she is still able to be as nimble and adroit as her teenaged friends as she sings and dances her way through the proceedings is simply unbelievable. Equally important, the evening is made even more enjoyable by the talented cast, who make the most of the jokes in the script—which has a plot far more complex than that of most musicals—and surrender to the joy of the piece.

Kimberly Akimbo has already enjoyed enormous success in both Off‑Broadway and Broadway productions, and another production is slated for later this year in London. Fortunately, people of the Lower Mainland do not have to travel that far to experience the show. While one may have misgivings from time to time about the credibility of the plot, if one surrenders to the overall cheerfulness and oft‑repeated optimism of the evening, one can engage with the arts without having to endure yet another night of negativity—and that is certainly most welcome.