Photo credit – T. Charles Erickson
King James – George Street Playhouse – Review
One of the great gifts a person can have in life is a good friendship. Once found, we are fortunate if it continues to develop and thrive for a long time. This is what happens in the play King James, currently playing at George Street Playhouse. Written by Rajiv Joseph, the show centers around a friendship which develops due to the amazing career of NBA superstar LeBron James. The friendship is between two young men who both love basketball. But it becomes more than that as it goes on.
Under the direction of Ryan George, the play is entertaining, clever, and heartwarming. Prepare to bring out your tissues as the issues the friends face reach their dramatic conclusion.
The setting for King James is at several locations in Cleveland, Ohio in 2004, 2010, 2014, and 2016. The play is divided into four scenes which correspond to those four years.
Great Sets and Video Enhance the Production
If you are a fan of LeBron James, you will enjoy seeing some of his career highlights on videos that play on a large drop down screen, center stage. It starts with the time when LeBron was finishing up his high school career. A sports commentator comes on and says “LeBron is the best high school player he has ever seen.“
He was highly regarded as a fabulous player coming into the NBA. So when he signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, excitement runs high especially since the team had not had a major championship in many years.
The Story Begins in LeBron’s Rookie Year
Many of the selected scenes correlate to the moments which help develop the friendship between Matt (Doug Harris) and Shawn (Blake Morris). These two actors both turn in very fine performances as they bring the story to life.
The two meet in a wine bar owned by Matt and his family. Matt has a set of season tickets to the Cavalier’s games. Suddenly, these tickets are in demand at high prices because of the notoriety that LeBron brings. Shawn comes in hoping to make the purchase.
They work to negotiate a price. Shawn gets the tickets then confesses that he has never been to a game. And so the two begin their friendship. The two scenes which make up the first half of the show cover 2004 – 201o.
Classic scenes of LeBron‘s attempts with the Cavaliers to win the NBA championship are shown on the screen. It’s frustrating to watch how close they come. Not only do Matt and Shawn share their love of basketball, but they get to know each about each other’s lives. All seems well. However, eventually they both realize they have to move on from their devotion to LeBron.
LeBron James Move to Miami
The frustration of not winning leads LeBron to accept an offer to move and join the Miami Heat. People will remember that time as very controversial. It would be fair to say that people in Cleveland were stunned that he walked away.
Thankfully, for the two friends, they have each other to go through this time together. And this really shows the impact of the importance of friendship can have. The two men grew closer over the years. They’ve gone to games together and they know each other’s families so when this disappointment occurs, they’re able to handle it together.
The play is cleverly constructed to show the advancement within the friends lives as LeBron is seeking his own. Matt eventually takes on the responsibility of his parents of his mother‘s antique shop. Shawn moves on to college and he wants to get into film work. And the audience can’t help but root for both of them because they both show how hard they work.
The King Returns to Cleveland
Finally, the moment comes when LeBron announces that he’s coming back to Cleveland to play ball. It has been 50 years with no championship. Will LeBron bring the hope of a win on his return?
People wonder if he will be accepted back by the public. When the two friends discuss it, Matt says “LeBron lacks class. He should’ve known his place.” At that moment the friendship is injured. Shawn takes the remarks to heart. He decides it is time for him to move to Los Angeles in order to pursue his writing career.
If you follow basketball, you know that LeBron James returned to Cleveland in 2014. He lead the Cavaliers to their first-ever championship in 2016. These are the years covered in the second part of the play.
Eventually Matt and Shawn get together again. There are bumps to overcome. Both have changed in those years perhaps in a sense paralleling LeBron James as well.
Go to See King James
The gift of a good friendship is one that is a blessing. The end of this play displays that very concept. You will want to see how the friends overcome time, distance, and big changes in their lives. But through it all, their friendship wins out.
King James runs now through Sunday April 6, 2025 at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center at 11 Livingston Avenue , New Brunswick, NJ. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit George Street Playhouse’s website.