"Kim's Convenience - by Ins Choi - Huntington Theatre Company (Boston, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Ins Choi as “Appa” attempts to reason with Brandon McKnight as cop “Alex” and Kelly J. Seo as Appa's daughter “Janet” in a scene from "KIM'S CONVENIENCE" by Ins Choi, presented by Huntington Theatre Company, Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. through November 30, 2025. Photo Credit: Dahlia Katz)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
"He is pimping Japan. Pimping Japan is okay. He is make money selling Japan food, but he is Korean. White people can’t tell difference. Kind of look same. Korean Grill House, run by Chinese. Chinese pimping Korea. That’s no good. Appa Boycott. Talk to police."
- ("Appa") / Ins Choi
Huntington Theatre Company
In Association With
Adam Blanshay Productions
Presents the
Soulpepper Theatre Company/American Conservatory Theatre
Production of Ins Choi's
"KIM'S CONVENIENCE"
Written by and Starring Ins Choi
Directed by Weyni Mengesha
Cast Includes: Ins Choi as “Appa,” Esther Chung as “Umma,” Ryan Jinn 진윤섭 as “Jung,” Brandon McKnight as “Rich/Alex/Mr. Lee/Mike,” Kelly J. Seo as “Janet.”
Additional Creative Team:
Scenic Design - Joanna Yu 余頌恩; Costume Design - Ming Wong 黄慧明; Lighting Design - Wen Ling Liao 廖雯伶; Video / Production Design - Nicole Eun-Ju Bell; Sound Design and Original Music - Fan Zhang 张颿; Fight Director - Sean Baek; Stage Manager - Robert Harding; Assistant Stage Manager - Angela Mae Bago; Producer - Adam Blanshay Productions.
Performances:
November 6, 2025 through November 30, 2025
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. 02116
TICKETS:
Available online at huntingtontheatre.org, by phone at 617-266-0800 or in person at THE HUNTINGTON THEATRE, 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston.
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
Huntington Theatre Company hosts Ins Choi’s "KIM'S CONVENIENCE" a production from Adam Blanshay Productions in association with Soulpepper Theatre Company and the American Conservatory Theatre but taking up a limited residency at the Calderwood Pavilion in Boston.
"KIM'S CONVENIENCE" is a delightful tale about a family-run Korean-owned neighborhood convenience store in Toronto.
Making its debut in 2011 at the Toronto Fringe Festival, the show became an immediate hit, and judging by the responses and reactions in the audience at the November 7th Huntington Theatre performance at the Calderwood Pavilion, it is easy to understand why.
The story touches anyone recognizing the emotions within a similar family dynamic or even connecting to others on an emotional level if NOT in a similar family dynamic.
(Photo: Ins Choi as “Appa” in a scene from "KIM'S CONVENIENCE" by Ins Choi, presented by Huntington Theatre Company, Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. through November 30, 2025. Photo Credit: Dahlia Katz)
Under the direction of Weyni Mengesha, "KIM'S CONVENIENCE" was recipient of two 2012 Toronto Theatre Critics awards including one for Best Canadian Play.
In 2017, the show was performed Off-Broadway From 2016 until 2021, CBC Television produced the 65-episode series "KIM'S CONVENIENCE" which became the first Canadian television show to feature an Asian cast of lead actors.
I must confess, though, when I attended the November 7th Huntington Theatre performance, I had never seen an episode of the series "KIM'S CONVENIENCE."
It wasn’t until I returned home and told my family about the “sitcom feel” of the current 90-minute play (no intermission) that my youngest daughter advised me of the series which is apparently available on Netflix.
Who knew? Apparently not me.
Yet, just because it came across as a “sitcom” doesn’t lessen the impact nor negate the overall charm and warmth expressed by its creator and these wonderfully rich characters.
Why Canada though and not set the show in the US?
My guess would be because it is the truth.
This was Choi’s own true-life experience which genuinely shines through in every moment on stage.
(Photo: The CAST of "KIM'S CONVENIENCE" by Ins Choi, presented by Huntington Theatre Company, Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. through November 30, 2025. Photo Credit: Dahlia Katz)
A large amount of Korean immigration to Canada took place in the 1960s, with Koreans trying to create a better future for their families, including Choi’s family.
While we also saw this in the United States, many Koreans settled in Toronto and opened convenience stores as a means of business.
As well as writing the show, Choi also stars in the latest Huntington Theatre production as store owner and family patriarch “Appa,” based upon his own father who worked at his uncle’s convenience store.
Esther Chung portrays “Umma” the wife of Appa who is a faithful churchgoer.
This is possibly a nod from Choi to the Korean church, which assisted Choi by contributing funding to help him complete the play.
Choi and Chung have multiple exchanges spoken mostly in non-English, but thanks to the intuitive performances by the actors, at no point do we feel as if we are “losing out” on any of the context as to what they are discussing.
As the play unfolds, "KIM'S CONVENIENCE" shows us these two Korean immigrants who opened their Toronto convenience store in the 1980s.
There is a nice flashback sequence about mid-way through the play, showing us the origin story of the store which is affectionately recalled by both Chung and Choi as their characters.
(Photo: Ins Choi as “Appa” with Esther Chung as “Umma” in a scene from "KIM'S CONVENIENCE" by Ins Choi, presented by Huntington Theatre Company, Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. through November 30, 2025. Photo Credit: Dahlia Katz)
Now, though, after being a fixture in this neighborhood for decades, the couple must contend with the ever-evolving community in which their stores resides which includes encountering differences of opinions with those of “outside” cultures.
The bigger threat to Appa, though, comes from the emergence of competing box store businesses with deep pockets appearing intent on eliminating the need for traditional family-owned neighborhood convenience stores.
Amidst all of this, Appa must also contend with the the "cultural differences" between himself and his own Canadian-born daughter, Janet (Kelly J. Seo) and estranged son, Jung (Ryan Jinn 진윤섭).
The elder Appa is offered the opportunity to sell "KIM'S CONVENIENCE" but instead hopes struggling photographer Janet, unmarried, pushing 30 and still living at home, will take over the store from him when he finally retires.
Seo gives an enthusiastic, vibrant performance as the combative Janet, who loves her parents but finds it increasingly difficult to contend with her father’s insufferable, inflexible ways.
Choi's writing conveys a message in "KIM'S CONVENIENCE" that extends beyond the relationship of a store-owner.
It is about family.
(Photo: Brandon McKnight as cop “Alex” and Kelly J. Seo as Janet” in a scene from "KIM'S CONVENIENCE" by Ins Choi, presented by Huntington Theatre Company, Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. through November 30, 2025. Photo Credit: Dahlia Katz)
Brandon McKnight is both exemplary portraying a myriad of divergent characters that come into the store, including wealthy realtor “Mr. Lee” who offers to purchase Appa’s store and property, then later as Canadian cop “Alex” who was friends with Jung and asks about him in the store, leading to awkward moments with Appa and new relationship possibilities with Janet.
Jinn offers a sympathetic portrayal as Appa's son, Jung, who ran away from home when he was 16 after Appa became uncharacteristically hostile toward his son.
Umma is the only one in the family that has remained in touch with Jung, meeting him at the church.
Although the story is quite predictable, there is quality of sincerity in Choi’s writing about this particular Korean-Canadian family dynamic.
In addition, there is a genuine affection conveyed by the actors on stage as their characters that elevates the material.
The single-set design of the convenience store may seem generic, but as you look above the stage at the skyline of the neighborhood, there’s a lot going on technically which adds to the fun of watching this show.
(Photo: Ins Choi as “Appa” attempts to reason with Brandon McKnight as cop “Alex” and Kelly J. Seo as Appa's daughter “Janet” in a scene from "KIM'S CONVENIENCE" by Ins Choi, presented by Huntington Theatre Company, Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. through November 30, 2025. Photo Credit: Dahlia Katz)
"KIM'S CONVENIENCE" continues from Huntington Theatre Company at the Calderwood Pavilion in Boston until November 30th, 2025 and is one store that has anything you want to help make you laugh and smile for a little while…well, at least, if that is convenient for you.
Coming up next week at the Huntington Theatre venue at 264 Huntington Avenue will be the musical “FUN HOME” by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron, based on the graphic novel by Alison Bechdel, which runs from November 14th through December 14th, 2025.
For tickets and more information, contact Huntington Theatre Company online at huntingtontheatre.org, by phone at # 617-266-0800 or in person at THE HUNTINGTON THEATRE, 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston.
BUY TICKETS
Approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
This hilarious and heartwarming award-winning comedy drama about a Korean family-run corner store that inspired the popular Netflix hit is a feel-good ode to generations of immigrants who have made Canada the country that it is today.
Mr. Kim works hard to support his wife and children with his Toronto convenience store.
As he evaluates his future, he faces both a changing neighborhood landscape and the gap between his values and those of his Canada-born children.
Playwright Ins Choi, who will also star in the production as the title character, calls "KIM'S CONVENIENCE" his “love letter to his parents and to all first-generation immigrants who call Canada their home.”
ABOUT THE HUNTINGTON THEATRE COMPANY
THE HUNTINGTON THEATRE COMPANY is Boston’s leading professional theatre and one of the region’s premier cultural assets since its founding in 1982. Recipient of the 2013 Regional Theatre Tony Award, THE HUNTINGTON brings together superb local and national talent and produces a mix of groundbreaking new works and classics made current to create award-winning productions. THE HUNTINGTON runs nationally renowned programs in education and new play development and serves the local theatre community through its operation of the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA. THE HUNTINGTON has long been an anchor cultural institution of Huntington Avenue, the Avenue of the Arts, and will remain so on a permanent basis with plans to convert the Huntington Avenue Theatre into a first-rate, modern venue with expanded services to audiences, artists, and the community. THE HUNTINGTON cultivates, celebrates, and champions theatre as an art form.
