Kim's Convenience, which is written by Ins Choi and directed by Esther Jun, is a delightful and heartwarming play about a family owned business, and the many conversations and dynamics that exist between family members. The play has also deservedly been expanded into a popular five season TV series. Written in 2011, Choi had portrayed the son Jung in the play's first performance, and is currently playing Mr. Kim in the London production.
Choi wields words with the utmost wisdom and wit and this makes Kim's Convenience such a brilliant play. Appa is unapologetically uncensored in his thoughts, often stating sharp observational moments of humour that are crude yet unintentionally hilarious. There are extended scenes, particularly between Appa and Janet, where each line deservedly gets its own moment of laughter. Appa is witty and clever without even trying, yet his judgements work best when contrasted with the much more emotional and feisty Janet, who often counters her father.
Jung and Umma's scene together contrasts this quite drastically, with a rather heavy and tense scene that creates the gravitas to create the tender and heartwarming ending. The scene is well written and provides both characters with their much needed stage time, but does feel quite rushed especially with such a sharp tonal change. Both Umma and Jung are fascinatingly written characters and hold such depth, yet are sadly underused in this production.
The performances are excellent, especially Choi who delivers an incredible and unforgettable performance as Appa. Whether it's the sharp wit, the quick temper, the moments of vulnerability or just making himself a cup of tea, it's nearly impossible not to be drawn to his performance. Jennifer Kim as Janet is hilarious, perfectly capturing the frustration of a different generation, whilst also shining as her own person in moments with Alex. Hilarious and endearing, Kim very quickly helps establish the warmth of family. Miles Mitchell is brilliant, multi-rolling as four very different characters in quick succession. Each character is so carefully defined and developed, it takes a moment to realise that they're all portrayed by the same actor. Mitchell is particularly brilliant as Alex, showing both a tough and sweet side to him. Namju Go and Edward Wu as Umma and Jung are both great, creating a shift and creating a deep sympathy for Jung's unfortunate plight, but are given limited stage time.
Mona Camille (set designer) has replicated Kim's Convenience Store with painstaking detail, ensuring that not only is the staging colourful and efficient, but also functional. These small details, such as lit up drink fridges, a half full bin, a bell every time a character leaves or enters the store, a hanging neon OPEN sign, all help further ground the play. Set in Canada, the store features local crisp flavours, whilst also adding Korean snacks and drinks to help make the store more authentic. The set feels so lived in, and therefore the audience are also taken in by the simplistic, yet monumental weight of the staging. The small church set, pushed on by crew members, creates an intimate and self-contained space that fits Jung's confession well, and effortlessly slides back into a store wall.
Camille also serves as the play's costume designer, and has once again chosen to let the character personalities shine through. Deceptively everyday, the costumes instantly help the audiences understand more of the character, whilst also helping differentiate the multiple roles played by Mitchell. The matching colours between Umma and Jung, and similar patterns between Appa and Janet is a wonderful detail.
The lighting design (Jonathan Chan) is effective, allowing the store's fluorescent lighting to dominate, whilst adding a soft warmer light to the mix. The single spotlight on Umma, along with the church lighting, feels apt for the more dramatic moments of the play. The sound design is rather sparse and minimalistic (Adrienne Quartly), with the store's door bell being the most used sound effect. The play chooses to use silence to elongate awkward moments or allow jokes to slowly sink in.
The play, despite its short runtime of 75 minutes, manages to accomplish a lot. Aside from some of the most hilarious observational comedy in theatre, Kim's Convenience also boasts its unique ability to have the conversation between first and second generation immigrants. The play never adopts a satirical nature, but treats these domestic and personal conflicts with respect, and allows them to linger with the audiences long after the show. With the dreams and hopes of the first generation often pinned on their children, the show develops a strong subplot of how each side of this argument handles this. Janet, a second generation immigrant, challenges this, whilst also demonstrating her own guilt at her parent's burdens, and to remain connected to her culture and also fit into society.
Kim's Convenience is a stunning piece that delivers a heartwarming, hilarious and hopeful package in the show, and is a welcoming chance to be entertained and educated through unique life experiences. It is currently playing at the Riverside Studios until 26th October. For tickets and more information, you can follow the link here.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5*)
Gifted ticket in return for an honest review | photography by Danny Kaan
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