“KIM'S CONVENIENCE”

 The Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park is currently mounting Ins Choi’s award winning “Kim’s Convenience”, a one act, 85 minute comedy-drama about family values, economics, changing attitudes, immigration, and overt prejudice with laugh line humor thrown in.  

Cho’s award winning play soon morphed into a T.V. sit-com and can still be seen on Netflix. It first went to Broadway and then to the U.K. It is set in Toronto where “Kim’s Convenience” is on a collision course with big box stores, high rising condos, rising prices and a shrinking customer base.

Brandon McKnight, Ins Choi and Kelly J. Seo

As an aside, Appa (or father) is on his own collision course with his daughter Janet (Kelly J. Seo), who wants to be a photographer and not take over Kim’s. While she does help out now and then, running the convenience store  is not in her future.   That doesn’t stop Appa from trying to school her in what to look for in the folks that come into the store as he accuses a black shopper of being a shoplifter.  

 Playing a smaller role, Umma (Esther Chung) who worries about the tension between Appa and Janet, is more interested in church functions.  It is in the church that she has a chance meeting with their estranged  son Jung (Ryan Jinn), whom we later learn, is a wiz  on Korean history and other notable dates Appa taught him when he was younger and living at home. 

Ins Choi and Esther Chung

Playwright Choi, who also plays Appa is both curmudgeon and stubborn, exasperating and funny, clueless and sharp, and is blatantly prejudice . He is at the center of this Korean family saga. 

Kelly J. Seo’s Janet brings out a brutally angry side criticizing her Appa but for the most part her interactions with her ‘gentleman caller’,  the local police officer (Brandon McKnight who plays all the other male characters) is worth a few laughs. 

Ins Choi

Ryan Jinn is excellent as their son Jung, especially after we get to really have an insight into him and his role in the family and family business. 

Weyni Mengesha directs with an eye on the laugh lines and moves right along through the laugh lines, making it difficult to hear the following dialogue. 

Joanna Yu’s set design is filled with just about anything and everything one can purchase in a convenient store. Wen-Ling Liao is credited for the lighting, Nicole Enu-JuBell, the video and projections, Ming Wong, costumes and David S. Franklin is production stage manager. 

I tried watching “Kim’s Convenient” on Netflix, but nothing I saw tickled my funny bone, so off to the next show. 

Brandon McKnight and Kelly J. Seo

Growing up my Dad had a market with groceries and cold cuts. I used to work there after school. The only lesson he ever taught me was not to interfere when he was in the middle of making a deal I thought he didn't understand. 'Nuff said!

Now a freeway runs through a once thriving business district where individual and specialized markets one thrived. I guess it’s the way of the world. 

Sigh!

See you at the theatre.

Enjoy

When:  Through Wednesday. Opens Thursday and runs through June 14. 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays

Where: Old Globe Theatre, Balboa Park

Photo:  Dahlia Katz

Tickets: $40 and up

Phone: 619-234-5623

Online: theoldglobe.org

“PURPOSE”: A GUT WRENCHING SAGA OF A FAMILY IN CRISIS.

 The La Jolla Playhouse is currently mounting Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play “Purpose” at the Mandel Weiss Theatre through June  7th. 

In 2024 Jacobs-Jennings won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play for his 2011 production of  “Appropriate” which played at The Old Globe a year or so ago. Both “Purpose” and “Appropriate” are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Yet both are oft times are riddled with dark comedy sprinkled with complex matters of race, religion, legacy and above all, control. 

The story is loosely based on the life and times of Civil Rights leader Jesse Jackson. 

Stephanie Berry, Andrea Agosto, Cornell Womack and Matthew Elijah Webb

At the center is the Jasper family: Rev. Solomon (Sonny) Jasper (Cornell Womack), who in the prime of his life marched with Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at rallies and gave inspirational sermons in their church. His loyal  wife, who has a law  degree, Claudine (Stephanie Berry) has been at his side through the good, bad and ugly. Sonny was hoping his younger son Naz (Matthew Elijah Web) would follow in his footsteps but alas, to no avail.  His older son Jr. (Sean Boyce Johnson) a former senator, was just released from jail for embezzling and tax fraud. His wife Morgan (Crystal Dickinson), who helped her husband was scheduled to follow in prison.  In his retirement, he has taken up beekeeping. 

Breaking the fourth wall, with self-reflexive monologues, son Naz, (or as he is sometimes called their “weird son”) speaks to the audience, introduces his family, tells us of their trials and tribulations and the chaotic mess his family is in. We learn that expectations are not met, long time anger lurks just under the surface and lies are brought to the fore as the once held in high esteem Jasper family is on the cusp of unraveling.  

head of the table Cornell Womack

Most of the story takes place on one Chicago snow filled night and into the next day. Naz’s friend, Aziza (Andréa Agosto) had driven him home from a long weekend in Canada where they spent watching the falls at Niagara.  And just for you know what and giggles, Naz has agreed to be a sperm donor for Aziza who admits she is gay.  (Tuck that away for a later time) . What Aziza walked into was a storm much messier inside than the one outside.  She is encouraged to stay  at their house because of the nasty weather outside, and… Claudia is celebrating her belated birthday. And Jr. has just been released from prison. And…As a side note, yours truly had just come from a belated b’day party of her own that afternoon. 

Under the superb direction of Delicia Turner-Sonnenberg “Purpose” gives meaning to the saying… ‘to everything there is a purpose’. The ensemble is a tightly knit group balancing comedy, sombernes and tragedy; effortlessly and readily. And as individual characters, each personality is carefully drawn out to let us in on  the grief, anxiety and hurt they are all feeling.  Singling one out above the others would be a difficult task, but no doubt, Webb anchors the show in his own easy going inimitable  way.  "Purpose"  as poignant  as are the silly moments that keep the play and the characters alive and above water.   

Cornell Womack and Matthew Elijah Webb

Credit Lawrence E. Moten III for the detailed set of a high end Chicago home with floor to ceiling windows, covered in sheer curtains to see the weather changing with a larger than life portrait of M.L. King, Jr.  Hanging chandeliers designed by Sherrice Mojgani giving the living room, kitchen and staircase well lit. Costumes by Samantha C. Jones are casual, Lindsay Jones is credited for the original music and sound design. Hair, wigs and makeup by Alberto “Albee” Alvarado. Heather M. Brose is  stage manager and Annette Nixon is production manager. 

Matthew Elijah Webb, Stephanie Berry, Sean Boyce Johnson, Crystal Dickinson and Andre Agosto

“Purpose” runs close to three hours. It’s very wordy but oh so purposeful. Jacob-Jennings has touched on ideas of being on the spectrum, sexuality, faith and the ministry. All this in one not so neatly package. 

See you at the theatre.

You’ll kick yourself if you miss this show!

Please enjoy!  

When:  Tuesdays through Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through June 7.

Where: La Jolla Playhouse, Mandell Weiss Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, UCSD

Photo:Rich Soublet II.

 Tickets: $30-$94

Phone: 858-550-1010

Online: lajollaplayhouse.org