If you ask me…
King James at Hartford TheaterWorks
By Tom Holehan
Connecticut Critics Circle
You don’t have to know much about basketball to enjoy Rajiv Joseph’s new comedy King James, but it definitely wouldn’t hurt. This entertaining two-hander, currently onstage at Hartford TheaterWorks, introduces a pair of basketball fans who are obsessed with the Cleveland Cavaliers and, in particular, ace player LeBron James. There’s little doubt that sports fans will have the best time at Theaterworks right now.
Set in Cleveland and covering four different time periods (called “quarters” in the play) from 2004-2016, King James opens with down-on-his-luck bartender Matt (Gergory Perri), in possession of a coveted pair of Cavaliers season tickets he’s anxious to sell, meeting potential buyer Shawn (George Anthony Richardson) who has been sent to see Matt via a mutual friend. Shawn is tall, black and a bit of a bruiser. Matt is short of stature, white and wiry with unbridled nervous energy. The pair have little in common except for their fanatical love of basketball and, in particular, LeBron James.
King James follows the familiar path of many two-handers about “odd couples” who bond and change over time as they come to better understand each other. Joseph’s play is about friendship and the unique psyche of the avid fan. It has few surprises and often strains credulity by having Matt unload all his personal baggage to a virtual stranger in the first scene. There is also contrivance in having Shawn forge an unlikely relationship with Matt’s parents. The racial conflict that arises late in the play seems to be tacked on just to add some manufactured conflict and make the final curtain more pleasing.
But the actors are both terrific throughout. They have given their characters distinct personalities and completely commit to their performances with onstage chemistry that is electric. Director Rob Ruggiero smoothly stages all the obvious plot machinations and the final moments of the play are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Kudos must be showered on the brilliantly detailed set design by Luke Cantarella, which provides a basement wine bar in act one that miraculously transforms into a used furniture and upholstery store in act two. You may want to stay seated at intermission to witness the magic.
Lighting (John Lasiter), costumes (Danielle Preston) and sound (Kevin L. Alexander) are all up to the theatre’s high standards. Before or after the show, theatergoers can also enjoy visiting the current lobby art exhibit dedicated to sports fans everywhere. It’s a delight.
King James continues at TheaterWorks, 233 Pearl Street in Hartford through March 2. For further information and ticket reservations call the theatre box office at 860.527.7838 or visit: www.twhartford.org.
Tom Holehan is one of the founders of the Connecticut Critics Circle, a frequent contributor to WPKN Radio’s “State of the Arts” program and the Stratford Crier and Artistic Director of Stratford’s Square One Theatre Company. He welcomes comments at: tholehan@yahoo.com. His reviews and other theatre information can be found on the Connecticut Critics Circle website: www.ctcritics.org.
