Hi, did you eat? You didn’t? Would you like a snack?’
Opening a show by giving out sweets to the audience is never a bad idea, and Zoë Kim, writer and performer of ‘Did you eat?’, does it with such an infectious smile and warmth that you immediately feel drawn to her. She then dives into the story of her childhood, generational trauma and differences in love languages specifically between mothers and daughters. While exploring her own Korean American identity and how it separates her from the people around her, she always comes back to food being an essential love language in Korean culture.
After having six sold-out previews in NYC, and having its world premiere on the Edinburgh Fringe, ‘Did you eat?’ is a show not to be missed!
The play tackles many heavy topics, such as anti-Asian hate or child abuse, but interweaves them with plenty of comedic moments, as to not make it feel too dark. Kim juggles these topics wonderfully, finding both moments of silence and laughter with the audience being stuck on her lips the entire time – and giving her a well-deserved standing ovation by the end.
With the show being performed partly in English and partly in Korean, Kim switches between languages seamlessly. And for audience members that do not speak Korean, between the English parts and her characterisations, you still understand the gist of what is happening without any issues.
Kim’s outstanding performance, particularly when portraying her mother, is incredibly moving and the relationship dynamic between the mother and daughter is relatable, not just to the Korean diaspora, but also anyone who left their home country and struggle to receive and give love to their family half-way across the globe. Her take on how love languages are being passed down to us from our ancestors but just because we learned to love a certain way doesn’t mean that our children feel loved that way aims to start a conversation and hopefully change the way people show their love for each other. Because in the end, maybe what her mother suggests really is what many of us want to hear from our mothers.
With this beautifully crafted solo-show, both Zoë Kim and Seoulful Productions are artists to look out for in the future! Now, bring your mother, or bring your daughter, and make sure to bring tissues, because chances are you will need them by the end of ‘Did you eat?’.
Reviewer: Christina Schmidt
Reviewed: 12th August 2023
North West End UK Rating: