Mr Kim has been running a convenience store since immigrating to Canada, where he and his wife raised their children. Now older, he hopes that one of them will take over the business, but neither is willing to do so. He finds himself caught between his own values – hard work, sacrifice and continuity – and those of his children, whom he encouraged to pursue a better, more fulfilling life. The play portrays this generational clash with humour and warmth. Although it touches on serious themes such as identity, cultural expectations and legacy, it does so with a light and often very funny tone, making it both engaging and thought-provoking. This was a 90-minute show that went by in the blink of an eye.
“Oh, okay. Um. Janet, I’ve always thought of you as a younger sister, following us around like a chubby little puppy dog. Wait, but when I saw you today, like, now – you’re so beautiful. You’re smart, talented, you make me laugh – I don’t understand why you’re still single. The only way I can figure it is God must love me so much that he’s kept you single for all these years to bless me with you.”
This production of Kim’s Convenience premiered at Soulpepper Theatre Company in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 2025 (Weyni Mengesha, Artistic Director, Gideon Arthurs, Executive Director)
Kim’s Convenience was originally produced as part of the 201 1 Toronto Fringe Festival. The premiere production of Kim’s Convenience was produced by Soulpepper Theatre Company, Toronto, ON.