Alex: ‘Kim’s Convenience’ not preachy

Hamilton’s Theatre Aquarius lifts the curtain on an award-winning original Canadian play. Kim’s Convenience tells of a neighborhood corner store operated by a Korean family. Set in Toronto’s Regent Park neighborhood, the corner variety is a metaphor as a close-knit family confronts the future, while seeking forgiveness for the past.

“I think the convenience store in particular was a great door for Koreans to come in to Canada because you could just price all the merchandise, and you would have to learn very minimal english, to make a healthy living for yourself and for your family.”

Korean-born Ins Choi draws on personal remembrances, balancing familial disputes and immigrant hostility with poignancy, respect, physical and verbal humor.

“My father would tell me stories, his story, of the Korean War, 1950-1953 when his family walked from North Korea to South Korea during that crazy time. And as tragic as that backdrop is, there would be little pockets of hilarity. Like, he would tell me these little stories of how he travelled from town to town and the trouble that he used to get in to, and it was filled with humour, drama, tears and laughter.”

Situations and characters are deftly defined; kind of a soap opera, but with depth and intelligence. The play’s not preachy, but we get the message.

Like traditional pubs, convenience stores have always been at the centre of activities in community neighborhoods. But are they convenient for the proprietors. This story tells it all.

The comedy-drama Kim’s Convenience continues at Hamilton’s Dofasco Centre for the Arts through November 23rd.