Why Cebuano-Aussie thespian Marty Alix loves the craft

FROM 'HAMILTON' TO 'KIMBERLY AKIMBO'

- By JANUAR JUNIOR AGUJA

Some actors find it easy to play characters they closely identify with in real life. For others, like Filipino-Australian thespian Marty Alix, it’s the opposite.

“Playing characters who are closer to me in real life is a bit harder,” said Alix in a virtual interview with The FREEMAN from Adelaide. “It’s like you can’t hide yourself.”

The actor, who has Cebuano roots through his parents, plays Martin Doaty in the Australian tour production of the Tony-winning musical “Kimberly Akimbo,” which focuses on the titular teenage character, Kimberly Levaco, who has a disease that ages her four times faster than her peers.

Actresses who play Kimberly are usually in their 60s, while many in the cast are younger, portraying teenagers.

“We are both queer, we both love showtunes, and we both have the same name,” said Alix, 30, on his similarities with his role. “It’s interesting to recall those feelings I had when I was a teen, such as unrequited love, longing, and the pure excitement of singing showtunes with your friends. It’s a weird thing going back to those feelings. You experienced those before, so you knew how it felt that time.”

The Australian production premiered in Adelaide on July 8 and ran until July 19 at Her Majesty's Theatre. It will move to Melbourne from July 26 to August 30 at the Arts Centre Melbourne.

Due to her condition, Levaco, played by Marina Prior in the Aussie version, is reaching the end of her life expectancy at 16 years old. The musical has an optimistic tone and is filled with lessons, hoping that musical theater fans in the Philippines will get to see it staged in their homeland someday.