London’s theatre scene has no shortage of productions inspired by TV shows, from Stranger Things to Fawlty Towers. Kim’s Convenience, on the other hand, is the rarer example of a successful play that spawned an even more successful TV adaptation.
Over 13 years since its first debut at Toronto Film Festival (and nearly six since the premiere of the Netflix sitcom it inspired) Ins Choi’s Korean-Canadian family comedy has debuted in London, transferring to Riverside Studios after a sell-out run at Park Theatre.
In this Esther Jun directed production, Choi takes on the role of patriarch Mr. Kim, fondly known as Appa, who owns and runs a neighbourhood convenience store with the reluctant help of his daughter Janet (Jennifer Kim). With new condos springing up across the area and the impending arrival of a shiny new Walmart, a local businessman (Miles Mitchell, who also plays a number of other roles) offers him a large sum of money to buy the building.
This offer spurs on Mr. Kim to consider what will become of the store’s legacy, as well as his own. He’s keen for Janet to take over and run the store herself, while she has her heart set on following her dreams to be a photographer.
The tension between these two stubborn characters is the source of much of the conflict in the show, but also a lot of its comedy. Choi and Kim really get to show off their comic talents in this production, with their snappy timing and careful physicality adding lots of extra laughs to Choi’s joke-packed script.
Namju Go’s Umma, the matriarch of the Kim household, gets less time on stage, but the actress grasps each scene she appears in with both hands, bringing a maternal warmth to the role amid the witty lines.
Another source of conflict in Kim’s Convenience comes from Mr. Kim’s relationship with his son Jung (Edward Wu), who left home at the age of 16 after fighting with his father. His return at the end of the play leads to the emotional climax of the piece, although his limited time on stage doesn’t make the payoff feel hugely powerful.
With Mona Camille’s intricately detailed set resembling that of a TV show, the audience is truly immersed in this comedy-drama, which paints a hilarious and wholesome portrait of family life — and all the politics and joys that come with it.
Playing until 26th October, https://riversidestudios.co.uk/see-and-do/kims-convenience-120980/
Reviewer: Olivia Cox
Reviewed: 11th September 2024
North West End UK Rating: