When you go and see something that inspired a hit TV series it’s understandable to be a little cautious: will it be a play or will it look like a TV show, how does this compare? A Korean family, owning and running their convenience store in Canada having moved there is a situation ripe for comedy moment after moment. What’s surprising is what a humble, layered and poignant offering this is, as well as having moments of laugh out loud humour.
Kim’s convenience store is fully and realistically on the stage, looking every bit a corner shop with all sorts of things in it from cards to sweets to drinks to Vaseline. Writer Ins Choi calls this a “love letter” to his parents and you can see from the attention to detail in the set that this story has been created with authenticity and love: the father sees himself so much a part of this shop, it’s as if the detail on the shelves are part of his layered character. We see a day in the life of this family, but not just any day: this is a day when many things come together and change the course of the family’s trajectory, where they each face things they don’t expect, and don’t want; but ultimately will be better for.
It’s a fascinating window into the world of a family with clashing values of tradition and modernity, of two completely different and often opposing cultures. We witness what’s important to them all: church, family, being valued and connected. We also see with clever humour combined with pathos the difficulties in understanding each other brought about not just by different languages but different perspectives; the stubbornness and entrenchment in each believing they are the hard done by party. Your sympathy also shifts throughout the piece as well, and as observers, we can see the feelings of love underneath the things said that are perhaps sharp or angry that they can’t see themselves.
And then moments of pure humour, including the father rattling off his prejudice filled list of exactly who steals from the shop and who doesn’t, while his daughter Janet is mortified telling him he can’t say these things. Another major guffaw moment comes from Janet appearing from behind the counter and flicking her hair as if she’s in a shampoo advert while trying desperately to flirt with the Policeman. There is a lovely moment of being at Church with lighting changes and beautifully sung harmonies: a little nugget of a completely different side of their life.
The acting is a joy to watch and exactly matches the style and tempo of the piece: it all fits together like a jigsaw. The accents for them all, including the multi-rolling customer, add to their characters: second generation children in the family also having Canadian accents. You can really tell are Canadian and not just vaguely from that North America which is an appreciated detail.
It’s a completely different family life yet there are similarities to us all: parents wanting the best for their children but being really quite bad at being able to put that in a positive way, children wanting to strike out on their own and not be hemmed in by parental expectations. This has managed to tell a human tale in a light and palatable way, but it has hidden depths. It’s funny, poignant, incredibly satisfying and uplifting.
Brighton Corn Exchange, 3 April 2025
Kim’s Convenience runs until 5 April 2025
Photos credit: Victoria Davies
