King James
King James is an exhilarating new play at Steppenwolf Theatre that's a slam dunk
Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents its world premiere production of King James by ensemble member Rajiv Joseph, staged by acclaimed Tony and Obie Award-winning director Kenny Leon, that's lit with excitement.
Two strangers forge a friendship over Cleveland Cavaliers season tickets, featuring ensemble member and Artistic Director Glenn Davis alongside Chris Perfetti (ABC TV's "Abbott Elementary"). Perfetti, who plays Matt, has run into some financial problems and needs money quickly. Unfortunately, he has squandered most of his money and has reached his limit of borrowing from his parents. Nevertheless, he lands his father's season tickets with continual begging, which he attempts to sell to offset his financial losses. Glenn Davis, who plays Shawn, a writer, has always wanted to attend a Cavs game but has never had the money; he finally has an opportunity to make his sports dream come true when he can sell one of his short stories, which gives him enough money to purchase tickets. He learns that Matt is selling season tickets and meets Matt in the La Cave Du Vin, The Cave of Wine.
Matt, a fanatic Cavs fan, has been reluctant to sell the season tickets that his father has had since he was a kid. So he comes up with a requirement that he will only sell the tickets as a package and to someone that loves the Cavs like him. So naturally, Shawn, an avid fan, wants the tickets; however, Matt's price is more than three times as much as Shawn is willing to pay. So they squabble over the cost, and Matt, tells Shawn he has a person ready to buy the tickets at a slightly lower price, but the buyer backs out, and Matt has to sell the tickets at Shawn's original amount. From the sale, Matt and Shawn develop a friendship that centers around the LeBron "King," James's career and legacy as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The magic of King James starts with Glenn Davis and Chris Perfetti; magnetic and compelling chemistry on stage is outstanding. Their stage presence, delivery, and retorts made you forget you were looking at two performances, but actually, the life and history of two friends connecting over their love of basketball. We get a glimpse of their battles and fears of being a loser and never feeling or understanding what it means to succeed. The hilarious and heartfelt moments shared regarding their anxieties, love of the game, and Lebron, minted their friendship bond. Davis and Perfetti genuinely reached the heart, the soul, and the pain in this play that we all feared.
King James is an exhilarating, well-written play that is innovative, hilarious, and so stimulating that it will surely bring the audience back to enjoying live theater. Playwright Rajiv Joseph brings the WOW factor in this play where an unlikely friendship forged by fandom has brilliantly given the audience a performance close to two hours that doesn't have a dull moment. Joseph altered our theatrical palate with King James and even had some seasoned aristocrats chuckling. This new, edgy, mirthful platform reminds me of another innovative person who altered how you looked at life. He is one of the masters in television writer, film, and renowned television producer, Norman Lear. Yes, I said it here. Rajiv Joseph seems to be on his way to being the new Norman Lear. The same Lear wrote great shows, including All in the Family, Maude, Sanford and Son, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, and Good Times.
Joseph, burst onto the American theatre scene with Pulitzer Prize finalist Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, a 2010 Pulitizer Prize finalist, and was awarded a grant for Outstanding New American Play. In addition, he has twice won the Obie Award for Best New American Play, a bright new playwright ready to soar into the Broadway scene. Joseph continues his rabbit out-of-the-hat magical genius in King James with superb playwrighting skills. And then you add a Tony and Obie Award-winning and Emmy-nominated Director, Kenny Leon, and you have yourself the making of the new Rajiv Joseph (Norman Lear) masterpiece.
I have to admit, and I'm reasonably sure that no one in the audience who wasn't a part of this production thought King James would be this amazing. But Steppenwolf has a slam dunk with King James. My Nostradamus sees a television version in the works. Hopefully, someone has connected The SpringHill Company.
Let's Play Highly Recommends King James.
Steppenwolf Theatre
King James
Written by Rajiv Joseph
Directed by Kenny Leon
Runs Mar 03 – Apr 10, 2022
