Last night Soulpepper kicked off their 15th Season with a true celebration of Canadian work as Kim’s Convenience opened to an enthusiastic crowd. A hit at last year’s Toronto Fringe Festival, Kim’s was written by Soulpepper Academy member Ins Choi – who also has a role in the show. After the production’s tremendous success at the Fringe almost every major theatre company in Toronto was vying for the opportunity to mount its return, but Ins chose to go with the company that helped him get his start. Last night members of the Soulpepper family joined with members of the media and friends and family of Mr. Choi in joyous celebration of the opening of Kim’s Convenience.
This show is a remarkable production. Simplistic in nature from start to finish, it packs an emotional punch that catches you off guard, and examines intense and difficult themes and subject matters in a delicate and respectful manner. A testament to the skills of Ins Choi as a budding playwright, the show takes the central theme of a family whose patriarch runs a Korean convenience store in an increasingly gentrified Regent Park, and runs with it to closely expose issues of race, gender, community, lifestyle and family.
At the heart of the show is Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Appa, the head of the Kim family. Mr. Lee delivers an incredibly powerful performance, alternating moments of touching sweetness with terrifying anger, and interspersing brilliant bursts of humour. His character’s plight is at the heart of the tale – a man approaching his twilight years and struggling to come to terms with what his legacy will be.
Mr. Lee is supported by a tremendous cast of characters who make up the Kim family, as well as the multi-faceted Cle Bennett who plays four different parts with tremendous skill and diversity. One such character is Alex, the love interest to daughter Janet, and Mr. Bennett delivers a funny, touching and tender performance that has the audience rooting for him from the very first awkward introduction.
As Appa’s daughter Janet, Esther Jun delivers a pitch-perfect performance of a young woman struggling to find her place in the world while having to balance the needs and demands of a traditional family. Father and daughter banter with each other with such precision and emotion it is akin to watching a well choreographed dance. There is one moment where they resort to a form of physical violence in order to tell each other their true feelings, and it is both touching and shockingly painful to witness the difficulties that these two have in communicating with each other.
The father/daughter banter is balanced perfectly by the quiet and gentle Jean Yoon as the matriarch of the family. Where Janet and Appa verbally spar with fierce intensity, Ms. Yoon exudes a quiet pain that is palpable throughout the production. She is a woman struggling with the same issues as the rest of the family and clearly trying to hold herself together for the sake of those she loves. In addition she must harbor a difficult secret, which is revealed in a brilliant scene showcasing both the strong acting and superior writing at the heart of Kim’s Convenience.
Finally there is writer Ins Choi, who plays the smallest role in the show but the one that arguably packs the most emotional punch. Choi plays estranged son Jung, who left home at 16 after stealing from the store that was to become his legacy. Choi brings a quiet intensity to the role, expressing most of his character’s pain through a simple look or gesture. When he finally reunites with his father almost no words are needed – the bond between them is felt the moment the two actors are on stage together.
Kim’s Convenience sets itself up for success in many ways, it isn’t simply the outstanding writing or talented actors, but rather the collaborative nature of the entire production. From the direction to the set design, lighting and production team – it is clear everyone involved is giving 100% to this show. The resulting production ends up elevated to new heights, all the while exploring the nature of the human spirit while telling its central story. It was clear on opening night that the show has the overwhelming support of the Toronto theatre community, as well as the Korean community. It is the joining of two very different groups of people in a common goal – to tell a story that deserves to be told – that really sets Kim’s apart. I think we will see big things for this show in the future – and have even more reasons to celebrate.
