Kim’s Convenience, now running at the Park Theatre is the play that preceded the Netflix sitcom.
Playwright Ins Choi (who played Mr Kim’s son in the original stage play) stars as the eponymous Mr Kim and presents a warm-hearted but funny insight into both family life and the immigrant experience.
Kim’s Convenience, won the Best New Play award and the Patron’s Pick at the 2011 Toronto Fringe festival and is more nuanced and deeply layered than the TV version. It is also braver in some choices, such as Omma (Mrs Kim, played here by Namju Go) speaking in Korean in most of her scenes.
The play gently and humorously explores the difficulties found in a changing neighbourhood, nearing retirement and not understanding your adult’s offspring’s choices but still loving them to distraction.
We are not Korean but our neighbours were and there satisfied (and laughter filled) whispered exclamations of, “So true!”, “Just like my mum!” would suggest that the situations and staging were very authentic.
The cast are strong and the set, a lovingly recreated corner store, allows the audience to feel they really have come to shop from Mr Kim.
Have others seen Kim’s Convenience? What were your thoughts?
Red Bus Londinium Life 
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