'Kim's Convenience' goes from the small screen to the stage at The Huntington

Every night for years, my spouse watched reruns of “Seinfeld” before going to sleep. While I found the show mildly funny, it wasn’t until I discovered my own nightly rewatch show that I understood this TV ritual. For me, it was Netflix’s “Kim’s Convenience,” about a bodega-owning Korean family in Canada. Watching the characters sort out their drama helped me laugh off the stress of the day and get lost in someone else’s story.

Now, fans of the TV show and newcomers alike can watch the heartwarming and funny “Kim’s Convenience,” onstage at The Huntington’s Calderwood Pavilion through Nov. 30. (Adam Blanshay Productions presents the Soulpepper Theatre Company production of the show in association with American Conservatory Theater.)

Directed by Weyni Mengesha, the play centers on the Kim family, which includes Mr. Kim, also known as Appa (Korean for dad), his wife Umma (Korean for mom), their daughter Janet and their son Jung. In the concise but beautiful theatrical production by Ins Choi, who also wonderfully renders the role of Appa, the fate of the convenience store hangs in the balance as their neighborhood gentrifies.

Much of the action takes place in the store designed by Joanna Yu, with pale blue walls teeming with household products, snacks and beverages. There’s just enough grit at the bottom of the shelves and high up on the walls to let showgoers know the store has been around for a long time. As patrons of the place — Rich, Mike, police officer Alex, and real estate agent Mr. Lee (all portrayed by a very talented and hilarious Brandon McKnight) — come in and converse with Mr. Kim, it’s clear that the store is respected and needed by most in the neighborhood.

There’s not a lot of time for a heavy plot, but Choi uses what’s available to quickly establish Appa’s love for Korea, as evidenced in the facts he made his son Jung (Ryan Jinn) memorize and the long hours he worked so that his children could choose their own paths. The audience also learns more about what’s on the hearts of the other family members.

The loving but headstrong Janet (Kelly Seo), who is a photographer, has worked in the store for years without a thank you and longs for more words of affirmation from Appa. Jung left home years ago and only meets up with Umma (Esther Chung). Appa feels like his identity is wrapped up in the store. He’s pondering his legacy, what he will leave behind and what people will say about his life. He’s ready to turn the reins of the store over to Janet instead of selling, but Janet isn’t interested.

As a watcher of the show, it’s lovely to see the characters onstage. What’s missing is the strength of the TV Umma (the wonderful and funny Chung doesn’t get enough lines onstage to be as fully fleshed out). But what does exist is a sweet sliver of the Kim family’s lives as they rediscover what’s most important.

“Kim’s Convenience” runs through Nov. 30 at The Huntington Theatre’s Calderwood Pavilion.