Reviewer: Christine Stanton
Writer: Ins Choi
Director: Esther Jun
“Warm & Welcoming”
3.5 / 5
Kim’s Convenience took Netflix by storm, with five seasons of the hit sitcom before coming to an end. But what many may not know, is that it began as an award-winning play at the Toronto Fringe Festival, so it feels apt having it return to the stage now their time on the screen has finished.
The show centres around the Kim’s; a Korean Canadian family who own a convenience store in Toronto. Store owner Appa is at the centre of the storyline and played by writer Ins Choi himself. Although the opening scenes of Appa are completely wordless, you automatically get a feel for his personality and mannerisms as he quietly opens in the shop, in a humorously mundane fashion. He grumbles about the Honda parked illegally – more so because it’s a Japanese vehicle rather than the parking space itself. He is a generational mix of intolerant and outdated, yet welcoming and harmless. His daughter Janet (Jennifer Kim) is quick to stop him when he toes the line, such as during his ‘will the customer steal or not’ training session.
Janet is a well-written character, highlighting the struggle of trying to find your own path in life while simultaneously trying to please your parents. They argue about his views and her aspirations, but at the heart of it all – it’s clear they have a mutually respecting, loving relationship, solidifying the heartwarming family feel that holds the show together. Wife and mother Umma (Namju Go) is a fleeting character, only popping into the shop to grab her things before heading back out to Church. She is however, the only one who still has a relationship with their estranged son Jung (Brian Law), shown during a touching scene where he confesses both his joy at having a child, but also the frustration at how his life has ended up – a dead end job and a lost relationship with his father.
Although the show started out as a play, because of its success as an ongoing sitcom, it’s almost hard to see all the themes and character relationships wrapped up in a short 80-minute show. Miles Mitchell excellently plays numerous customers to the shop, each with different accents and reasons for visiting – but expectedly shines most as Janet’s childhood crush Alex, adding an endearing romance plot to the already surprisingly tender show. Another notably engaging moment is when Appa quizzes Jung on some key dates and figures in Korean history, bringing an appreciated focus onto the achievements from their heritage.
This is a great easy watch whether an existing fan of the show or coming in completely unaware. The excellently designed set (Mona Camille) automatically places you into the shopfront, the recognisable familiarity leaning into the family focused show. Its strong cultural identity and humorous interactions make this show warm and welcoming.
Runs Until 10 February 2024
RatedReviewed 
Leave a comment