Kim’s Convenience, Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, CT, USA

David Shih (Appa), Cindy Im (Janet)
Kim’s Convenience

We attended the performance of Kim’s Convenience on opening night, Saturday, July 9, 2022, and fell in love with "the play that launched a hit series on Netflix" and its delightful characters. The plot of the play tells the story of Appa (the Korean word for "dad") a first-generation Korean immigrant who owns a convenience store in Toronto, Canada. For Mr. Kim, the store is not only a means to provide for his family, but he also believes that he is building a legacy, a future for his daughter, Janet, to succeed him in the business. Janet, however, has other plans for her life that do not include Kim’s Convenience, much to her father’s dismay.

David Shih (Appa), Eric R. Williams (Real Estate Agent)
Kim’s Convenience

The relationship between Appa, played by David Shih, and his daughter, Janet, played by Cindy Im, is pure onstage magic as they battle to convince each other of why each of them are correct in their decisions. Janet is a photographer and that is her passion; for Appa, the store is his passion. He has worked hard over the years to create a business that he is proud of, and believes that Janet, still single at age 30, will feel the same passion for the store and the business as he does. Even while Janet is resisting his offer to succeed him, Appa refuses to believe her and tries to educate her in "store street smarts" such as how to spot a shoplifter and calling the police when someone parks illegally in a parking spot in front of the store.

Chuja Seo (Umma), David Shih (Appa)
Kim’s Convenience

The dialogue is witty, fast-paced, downright humorous, and endearing, and the talented cast deliver their lines effortlessly, served on a silver platter. The actor Eric R. Williams deftly plays a variety of characters, including a police officer named Alex, a friend of Janet’s estranged brother, Jung, who comes to the store on a "911" call only to find out that the emergency is for a parked call. As he explains to Mr. Kim that calling "911" is for emergency situations only, Alex and Janet reconnect as he remembers her as the little girl who used to tag around after her brother and himself. All grown up now and gorgeous, it is this chance encounter of Janet and Alex that is the catalyst for love to bloom in Kim’s Convenience, and when Appa tells Alex and Janet to Pho (the Korean word for "smooch"), you know that there is a love match.

Eric R. Williams (Alex), Cindy Im (Janet)
Kim’s Convenience

Hyunmin Rhee plays the estranged son, Jung, who meets his mother, Umma, played by Chuja Seo, in secret. It is during one of these meetings that Umma convinces him to forget the past and his argument with his father that drove him away many years ago. It is a time to reconcile their differences. Ultimately, Jung heeds her advice and goes to see his Appa, and while Mr. Kim is reluctant at first to accept him back into his life, in the end, family ties prove stronger than past arguments and pull them together. The finale is one of hope for each member of the family and for the future of Kim’s Convenience.

Hyunmin Rhee (Jung), Chuja Seo (Umma)
Kim’s Convenience

The play is a joy to watch, laugh aloud funny, and highly relatable, especially for anyone for who comes from a family business background, or knows someone who does. Whether delivering the well-crafted lines or the physical comedy, the talented cast had us, and the rest of the audience eating out of their hands all night. Bravo!

Hyunmin Rhee (Jung), David Shih (Appa)
Kim’s Convenience

Until next time, keep enjoying and supporting the arts!

Link for Westport Country Playhouse’s "Kim’s Convenience" – The Official Trailer: https://youtu.be/61Mn83wmm_Y

About the Westport Country Playhouse

The Westport Country Playhouse named as "Theatre Company of the Year" in December 2013 by The Wall Street Journal, opened on June 29, 1931, in a transformed 1835 cow barn, which has, and continues to attract, a "who’s who" of prominent actors.

Looking at the framed posters of past shows that line the lobby walls was like entering an encyclopedia of the arts. A few of the renowned actors who have appeared on the stage there include Ethyl Barrymore, Dorothy and Lillian Gish, Tallulah Bankhead, Gloria Swanson, Don Ameche, Hume Cronin and Jessica Tandy, Jane Fonda, Danny Aiello, Blythe Danner, Jill Clayburgh, Richard Dreyfus, Whoopi Goldberg, Liza Minnelli, Bernadette Peters, Lynn Redgrave, Gene Wilder, and Westport residents Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman.

"Westport Country Playhouse, a not-for-profit theater, serves as a cultural nexus for patrons, artists and students and is a treasured resource for the State of Connecticut. There are no boundaries to the creative thinking for future seasons or the kinds of audiences and excitement for theater that Westport Country Playhouse can build."

"The mission of Westport Country Playhouse is to enrich, enlighten, and engage the community through the power of professionally produced theater of the highest caliber and the welcoming experience of the Playhouse campus. The not-for-profit Playhouse provides this experience in multiple ways by offering live theater experiences of the highest quality, under the artistic direction of Mark Lamos; educational and community engagement events to further explore the work on stage; the New Works Initiative, a program dedicated to the discovery, development, and production of new live theatrical works; special performances and programs for students and teachers with extensive curriculum support material; Script in Hand play readings to deepen relationships with audiences and artists; the renowned Woodward Internship Program during the summer months for aspiring theater professionals; Family Festivities presentations to delight young and old alike and to promote reading through live theater; and the beautiful and historic Playhouse campus open for enjoyment and community events year-round. Charity Navigator has recently awarded its top 4-star charity rating to the Playhouse in recognition of its strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency."

For information on Kim’s Convenience, upcoming performances, or to purchase tickets, please call the box office at +1-203-227-4177, email them at boxoffice@westportplayhouse.org or visit the website at www.WestportPlayhouse.org.

Performance schedule for Kim’s Convenience: Friday: 8:00 pm, Saturday: 8:00 pm, Sunday: 3:00 pm, Tuesday: 7:00 pm, Wednesday: 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, Thursday: 8:00 pm

The play runs from July 5 – 17, 2022. Runtime is 80 minutes without an intermission.

Note from the Playwright Ins Choi

"It’s a bigger decision now to be here. Unless this note is also published online, you’re only reading this cuz you’re in a theater safely gathered as a group to hear a story. In this case, it’s a story about an Asian family. I had a conversation with a colleague at the beginning of the pandemic about how to combat the rise of Asian hate crimes. We concluded that in tandem with gathering as large groups to condemn such abhorrent behaviors and engaging in other political activism, the proactive part was continuing to write stories and mentoring younger Asian Canadian/American storytellers. Stories? Really? It was a surprising conclusion to us too. There’s a quiet strength in stories as it allows us to see into the lives of others wholly different from ourselves only to realize how similar we all are. Through stories we’re entertained as a group and comforted to know we’re not alone both in our struggles and what we find funny. Stories are disarming, engaging our imaginations, and viscerally reminding us of when we were all a little more supple. Thank you for being here to hear this story."

Kim’s Convenience Creative Team

Kim’s Convenience Cast – In Order of Appearance

Westport Country Playhouse Production Team

For this Production

Know Before You Go – Covid Protocols

"To attend in-person performances, all audience members must present proof of vaccination and wear a mask at all times while inside. Please review our full safety protocols here."

Upcoming Performances 2022 Season

Westport Country Playhouse
25 Powers Court
Westport, Connecticut 06880
United States
Box Office: +1-203-227-4177
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Fax: +1-203-454-3239
Box Office: +1-203-227-4177
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