By Michael Buzzelli
In Cleveland, Ohio, in 2004, Shawn (Robert Hunter) wants to buy season passes to LeBron James’s inaugural season with the Cavs, and, instead, gets a lifelong, yet unlikely, friend, in the ticketholder, Matt (Michael Patrick Trimm) in Rajiv Joseph’s play, “King James.”
The fast friends bond over LeBron. The play takes place over four quarters, like a basketball game, in 2004, 2010, 2014 and 2016. Their lives take roller coaster turns, up, down and sideways throughout the four significant years of their friendship.
Matt and Shawn go mano a mano in the pickup game of life.
Their lives become intwined in a variety of ways. When Shawn becomes friends with Matt’s parents, things get a bit awkward. Societal issues become a sticking point between them. Things get ugly in the second act, when Matt slips a comment out about LeBron that becomes a seismic quake in their friendship.
Ultimately, the story is about platonic friendship, a difficult feat to pull off in a two-hander. Joseph keeps the text laser-focused on basketball, and the subtext on money, race and education.
Both of the male leads are charming to watch, especially when they’re geeking out over their favorite player, the titular King James (LeBron).
The nature of fandom is a core component of the show. Even though, LeBron James feels like a third character in the play, the subject of their bond could have easily been any iteration of fandom. The could have easily been Terrible Towel-waving Steeler fans, or light saber-wielding Star Wars fans.
Trimm brings a lot of sitcom energy to the work. His character is an over-the-top sports fan is meant to have a manic dynamic. It works, especially against Hunter’s more measured character (until things flip when LeBron returns to Cleveland).
Hunter does a terrific job as the more intellectual of the two. His character starts off as aloof, distant, but as the show progresses, he is the more open and passionate member of the duo.
Both characters have an arc, and the actors handle each of their respective changes with finesse.
Monteze Freeland directs the show with verve. Even though the story is “two men shooting the shit,” Freeland keeps the kinetic energy high, the actors are in constant motion.
Tony Ferrieri does another spectacular job with the set. Act one takes place in a church that is converted into a wine bar complete with ornate stain glass windows. Act two takes place in a curiosity shop, stuffed with vintage tchotchkes, including a standing globe, a human skull and a stuffed armadillo.
Side note: The Armadillo, Armand, is a plot point throughout the show.
Shout out to Howard Patterson’s sound design. Normally, when the actors are mic’ed, it’s riddled with feedback loops, or that scruffy noise when the mic rubs up against facial hair or loose clothing. Patterson’s microphones elevated the actors voices without being noticeable or annoying.
“King James” doesn’t carry the dramatic weight of “Birthday Candles,” but it’s a delightful story about friendship. If you have a basketball enthusiast in your life, this could be the play that gets him or her into the theatre. You might be able to create a lifelong theatre fan. The theatre, every theatre in Pittsburgh, could benefit from having a few more fans. After all, sports and theater are nothing without fans.
-MB
“King James” runs until Sunday, May 11 at the City Theatre, 1300 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. For tickets and more information, click here.
