The Westport Country Playhouse production has audiences buzzing. The acting, dialogue, casting; the up-front stereotypes and recognition of universal family themes — they love it all.
They particularly love the set.
Designed by You-Shin Chen, it recreates a Korean-owned convenience store in Toronto — right there on the 91-year-old Playhouse stage.
We’re not talking a shelf or two. This is aisle upon aisle of candy, chips, cigarettes, paper towels — exactly what you’d find in a store like that.
Plus fully stocked coolers, a sign demanding legal ID — even fluorescent lights and heating vents.
David Shih, Eric R. Williams, and the “Kim’s Convenience” set, at the Westport Country Playhouse. (Photo/CarolRoseggt
It’s a shame to think of striking the set when the show ends on Sunday.
Happily, it won’t be.
Instead, the fully stocked “store” will be packed up, and moved to California. In September, the entire set and most props will wow audiences at the Laguna Playhouse production of “Kim’s Convenience.”
The only items not going are the beverages in the coolers, and bread. The candy will be shipped separately, to avoid melting in the hot truck.
A professional transfer company is handling the arrangements. Chin will help.
RJ Romeo, the Playhouse’s technical director, heads to Laguna this fall. He’ll assist the production crew there with installation.
But that’s not the only rental. After the California run, the set will be shipped again — to TheatreSquared in Fayetteville, Arkansas, for their January production.
Westport Country Playhouse is nationally known for the hundreds of famed actors who starred here.
Now we’ll be known — in Southern California and Arkansas, anyway — for the Toronto Korean convenience store that once graced our stage.
(“Kim’s Convenience” runs through this Sunday, July 17. Click here for tickets, and more information.)
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Last night’s official opening of the Westport Country Playhouse’s new production, “Kim’s Convenience,” was a sellout — and a smash.
Many theater-goers knew it from the Netflix TV show. I’d never seen it, so I had no preconceptions. I was drawn in immediately by its ricocheting storylines of family, love, longing, and — especially relevant today — the immigrant experience, not matter where anyone comes from.
It’s well cast — and much of the production crew is Korean too. Poignant, hilarious and insightful “Kim’s Convenience” should draw large, appreciative audiences through its run, which ends next Sunday.
Click here for more information, and tickets. And if you’re around this afternoon (Sunday, July 10), playwright Ins Choi leads a free Symposium on the show. It’s open to the public; no performance ticket is necessary. Just arrive 80 minutes after the 3 p.m. curtain.
Taking bows after last night’s performance of “Kim’s Convenience (from left): Eric R. Williams, Cindy Im, David Shih, Chuja Seo, Hyunmin Rhee. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
The 2009 Staples High School graduate led for 56 out of 67 laps yesterday, at the NASCAR Truck Series.
He held off points leader Zane Smith to win his race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car course in Lexington.
It was his 3rd career win in the series, and first in 5 years.
“It’s hard to put into words,” Kligerman told ESPN. “I was pretty emotional on the cooldown lap because this whole team it’s like a team of second chances. Two years ago, I thought my driving days were done. This team gave me a call, wanting to get back racing and it’s just been a steady improvement.”
Also very cool: Dale Earnhardt Jr. tweeted him congratulations.
Click here for the full story. (Hat tip: Dave Briggs)
Anyone who spends time on Westport’s fields knows that athletes — and their parents — don’t always pick up after themselves.
But a multi-state lacrosse tournament, run by a private club, brought new levels of garbage across Staples High School and Wakeman yesterday.
Water bottles, fast food wrappers, chairs and all kinds of other trash were strewn in the bleachers, on the Staples hill, and across every turf and grass field. A parent called the amount of garbage “astonishing.”
The event continues today.
One small part of the garbage left on the fields, bleachers and hill, at Staples and Wakeman.
There’s a new — and important — stop sign at Compo Beach.
David Meth writes:
“Thank you to Carmen Roda, operations manager at Parks & Rec, Department, as well as the Westport Police Department, for installing the new sign just beyond the welcome booth. Drivers now stop for pedestrians and cyclists. It is reassuring that we can all enjoy the summer safely.”
Longtime Westporter, school employee and church volunteer Sandy Atwood died recently, surrounded by her family.
Born Nancy Newton Scrivenor in New Haven, but always called “Sandy” (her father wanted to name her Cassandra), she grew up in Branford. She was a frequent junior tennis champion at the Pine Orchard Club, and played organ in church.
She graduated from Prospect Hill School (now Hopkins) in 1957, then Colby Junior College. Sandy made her debut at the New Haven Assembly.
She met Stan Atwood in Boston, while he was attending Harvard Summer School. They were married in 1960. When he studied at Washington & Lee Law School, she worked at the university as a secretary.
After moving to Westport, where Stan practiced law, Sandy worked for 25 years as an administrative coordinator in Staples High School’s special education department.
Sandy was active in local, state and federal political campaigns; the Greater Bridgeport Junior Hockey Association (including building the Wonderland of Ice), Greens Farms Elementary School PTA, the Green’s Farms Congregational Church, Staples Tuition Grants, the Westport Weston Foundation Trust, Earthplace, the Westport Woman’s Club and PEO.
She and Stan provided housing for high school students in crisis. She also was a regular visitor to elderly and infirm Westport residents.
Sandy was an avid tennis, bridge and bunko player. She enjoyed card and board games, puzzles, reading, gardening, and socializing with the Wine Sisters.
She was predeceased by her husband Stan, brother Arthur, and family dog Henry Aaron. She is survived by her daughter Laura (Tom) Atwood Kottler, and sons Jonathan and Scott (Lisa)l grandchildren Sam, Charlie and Liza Kottler; Finn Atwood, Kirah Kingsland and Alex Robertson, and great-grandchild Bennett.
A celebration of Sandy’s life will be held on Saturday, July 16 (10 a.m., Green’s Farms Congregational Church).
Memorial gifts in her name may be made to Staples Tuition Grants, PO Box 5159, Westport, CT 06881.
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