The set-up to Michelle Lim’s KOREABOO sees Hannah, an adoptee, travel from Australia, the country that has become her home, to South Korea’s capital city, Seoul, to spend time with her birth mother, Umma, in the hope that she can finally connect with her.
The play starts with Hannah, with suitcase in hand, stepping inside Umma’s convenience store. She catches Umma trying to flx a problem with her fridge which has steam pouring out of it.
Together they sort out the fridge issue. Hannah chats to Umma but she picks up that she seems aloof and doesn’t seem to be pleased. Umma is a workaholic and keeps the corner shop, or corner mart as it is known in South Korea, open 24 hours a day. One can sense Hannah’s mind ticking over. Will her mum thaw out? Will the distance between them finally be closed?
This was always be going to be a very emotional experience, especially as the play was inspired by the playwright Michelle Lim Davidson’s own experience as a Korean adoptee, and she has chosen to play the central role.
Davidson doesn’t skirt around the tough aspects of the reunion however she coats the play with plenty of humour and quirkiness. The two connect through their playfulness and their love of Korean music, in particular KPOP.A
The two performances are on point, playing neatly contrasted characters. A very experienced stage and television actress Davidson is is great as the good natured, optimistic, quirky, quietly steely Hannah. Heather Jeong, better known as a TV chef and culinary expert, held her own on stage with Davidson, portraying a feisty, independent woman.
Jessica Arthur directs the action with a sure touch. Mel Page’s very finely, comprehensively detailed set of Umma’s very Korea convenience mart is the third star of the show. You come in to the theatre and you are straight away anchored in to the world of the play. Kate Baldwin lighting as well as Brendon Boney’s soundscape worked well.
This was equally emotive and entertaining. A Griffin Theatre production in association with Belvoir Street theatre, Michelle Lim Davidson’s play KOREABOO (the title refers to a non Korean person who is overly enthusiastic about Korean culture), is playing downstairs at Belvoir Street until 20th July 2025. Performances are Tuesdays to Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays at 1pm and 7pm, and Sundays at 5.30pm.
Production photography by Brett Boardman
https://griffintheatre.com.au/whats-on/koreboo
