Kim's Convenience Overview

The author's early experiences in theatre, where he observed a lack of opportunities for Asian actors and a limited range of roles.

A theatre company dedicated to nurturing Asian theatre in Toronto.

The author's first play, developed through the fu-GEN playwriting unit.

An award that guarantees a show's inclusion in the festival, waives the entrance fee, and promotes the winning play.

The author's challenge to connect with the Korean audience, a crucial demographic for his play.

The author's approach to reaching the Korean audience, which included distributing posters in Korean communities and contacting Korean churches.

The role of the director in theatre, often a demanding and time-consuming position.

The author's decision to take on the role of producer and director for his own play, due to scheduling conflicts.

The play received great recognition and acclaim during the festival, resulting in high demand for tickets and even a sell-out of additional shows.

The play's audience reflected a diverse range of cultural backgrounds, contributing to its captivating and immersive nature.

The play's popularity extended beyond the festival, with commercial producers and artistic directors expressing interest in its production.

The play's success brought a sense of joy and camaraderie among the cast, as they celebrated their achievements and enjoyed each other's company through gestures like sharing snacks and offering congratulations.

The play's creator expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to explore their creativity and bring their vision to life.

The playwright's faith in their own abilities and the support of others allowed them to persevere and achieve success.

The play's themes and story resonate with a broad audience, effectively connecting with viewers from diverse backgrounds and life experiences.

The diverse ethnicities of the actors in the play reflect the real-world backgrounds of the people they portray.

A play written by Ins Choi, which debuted at the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival.

Appa is a 59-year-old Korean-Canadian man running the convenience store.

Appa's wife, Umma is a 56-year-old Korean-Canadian woman.

A 32-year-old Korean-Canadian man, Jung, is Appa and Umma's son.

A 30-year-old Korean-Canadian woman, Janet, is a character in the play.

The play had its first performance on July 6, 2011, at the Bathurst Street Theatre in Toronto.

The play was revived by Soulpepper Theatre Company on January 19, 2012, at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto.

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee portrayed Appa in the Soulpepper Theatre production.

Korean ginseng is also known as 'insam' in Korean.

The appearance of Korean ginseng and Japanese ginseng might be similar, but they are distinct.

The Japanese word for ginseng, 'ginseng', is different from the Korean word 'insam', reflecting cultural differences in naming.

The event of Japan annexing Korea in 1904 had a significant impact on the Korean people, leading to periods of subjugation and hardship.

Insam holds cultural importance for Koreans as a symbol of resilience and national identity.

The Japanese occupation of Korea (1904-1945) impacted Korean identity and culture, including the perception and use of insam and ginseng.

The conversation between Rich and Appa highlights the cultural significance of 'insam' for Koreans, showing a deeper understanding of Korean identity.

A comedic exaggeration of a stereotype, using overblown language and actions to create humor.

A form of humor that uses stereotypes to highlight cultural differences and societal expectations, while often employing exaggeration for comedic effect.

Characters who are presented as caricatures of certain social groups, often reinforcing common misconceptions or stereotypes.

The use of humor to highlight social norms and expectations, often through satire and exaggeration.

A playwright's unique approach to crafting humor and characters, often incorporating satire, exaggeration, and stereotypical portrayals.

The comedic effect created by the use of language, misunderstandings, and unexpected turns of events.

A proposal to buy a business. In this case, Lee wants to buy Mr. Kim's convenience store.

A large chain store known for its low prices. In this case, Walmart is moving into the Regent Park neighborhood, which will impact local businesses like Mr. Kim's convenience store.

This is a term used to describe the impact of Walmart's move on local businesses. Walmart's presence can threaten smaller businesses due to its sheer size and buying power. It's a significant threat to Mr. Kim's store.

This refers to Mr. Kim's strategy for dealing with the changing situation in Regent Park. It's the plan he has to survive the competition from Walmart.

Mr. Kim's refusal to sell his store to Lee is based on his belief that he needs to support the community. He believes his store is essential for the neighborhood residents.

Lee understands that Mr. Kim is committed to his community but highlights that Walmart will likely make it impossible for Mr. Kim's store to survive.

This is a way of describing the situation faced by Mr. Kim's store. It's a metaphor for the impact of Walmart's arrival on local businesses.

Mr. Kim makes a quick decision to stay in business. Despite the threat from Walmart, he stays true to his commitment to his community.