The exploration of male friendship and bonding over 12 years is the basis for Rajiv Joseph’s two-person play, King James. This is James, as in LeBron James. The show begins in 2004, the soon-to-be iconic player’s rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team. Matt (Gregory Perri), the owner of a wine bar, is seeking to unload the remainder of his season tickets for the Cavs due to money issues. In walks Shawn (George Anthony Richardson), who a friend-of-a-friend told him about the available tickets. The two talk (about basketball and other matters), bicker, and wrangle until a sale is finally made. More importantly, a friendship begins to bloom. Throughout the next three scenes, all pegged to significant dates of recent Cavalier history – 2010, when James left for the Miami Heat; 2014, when he returned to Cleveland; and 2016, when the Cavs won the NBA championship – the two men continue to talk basketball, but also delve into their personal and professional lives. Along their journey together there is anger, betrayal, mistrust and misunderstanding leavened with a true affection for each other.
Gregory Perri and George Anthony Richardson in King James. Photo by Mike Marques.
With any play featuring just two characters, the playwright needs to inject enough drama or bumps in the road to keep audiences engaged. Joseph partly succeeds with this task, but the there is a lot of lag time in-between the crucial moments of the show. Interestingly, after spending two hours with Matt and Shawn, I still did not feel I knew enough about them. In addition, with all the angst and separation the two experience with one another, the final scene comes across as a trifle insincere.
Both actors are animated and bring a real-world essence to their roles. These are just two ordinary, somewhat lonely guys, that meet and slowly bond. Gregory Perri (Matt) and George Anthony Richardson (Shawn) are fully invested in their roles as they seek to develop into more well-rounded characters. It’s when they break free from the confines of the back-and-forth dialogue that their performances shine, most notably during the final quarter of the play.
Gregory Perri and George Anthony Richardson in King James. Photo by Mike Marques.
Director Rob Ruggiero does his best to infuse movement and action into the production. His staging shines when he brings out both the friskiness and heated confrontations of the two characters. He, almost imperceptibly, incorporates changes in dress and, especially, cellphone technology that takes place over the 12-year period. This is enhanced by Sound Designer Kevin L. Alexander’s playful, evolving ringtones. Luke Cantarella’s richly detailed set designs – the wine bar and the interior of a curiosity shop – are impressively rendered.
Kings James, playing through March 2. Click here for information on dates, times, and ticket information.
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