Syracuse Stage’s King James is a slam dunk
Theater Review: ‘King James’ at Syracuse Stage
Review: The play scores the hearts of audience members with its authenticity and relatability.
The legacy of LeBron James extends past the court and into the hearts of sports fans nationwide. Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Rajiv Joseph’s King James at Syracuse Stage is the perfect representation of this phenomenon.
King James follows two Cleveland Cavaliers fanatics, both with a love for the game and each other. Shawn (Enoch King) takes a shot in the dark on Matt (Quinn M. Johnson) and a lifelong friendship evolves.
Just as life unfolds in chapters, the play is told in quarters. Each quarter effectively shows the audience a glimpse into the progression of the pair’s friendship. From their humorous beginning to a bittersweet end, the play doesn’t shy away from fully demonstrating the good, the bad and the ugly that comes with any meaningful relationship.
The time skips between each quarter are marked by a series of soundbites, ranging from quotes in popular culture to political speeches of the time. This helps situate the audience in the context of each time period being displayed. These pop culture moments, however, could have been used more through dialogue to establish continuity, as the shifts often felt abrupt.
The play’s costumes design also matches the fashion trends of the early 2000s to emphasize the time difference between quarters. The technology they use in the play, such as flip phones, further this connection and earned a few nostalgic laughs from viewers.
The actors were phenomenal in making the connection between Shawn and Matt genuine. This connection is the whole driving force behind the play, and the way the characters embraced natural silences and awkwardness in conversation gave the relationship an authentic feel. In certain scenes, the actors naturally built tension around each other’s flaws, making the play feel realistic and believable. The tension manifests physically in their interactions, reflected in the stiffness of their posture or a stuttering handshake.
The play’s set design was unimposing, but incredibly detailed. Act I takes place inside of the bar Matt works at. The bar is located in a former church with stained glass windows, cobblestone and mahogany furnishing. This meticulous design was effective, as it didn’t distract from the actors’ performance, allowing the characters’ colorful personalities to shine.
Act II takes place inside of Matt’s family’s oddity shop, which is littered with knick knacks and strange items. This is a key detail: as time goes by, the items on the shelf go, too. The floor is a basketball court, alluding to the game that bonds the two protagonists together. Just as a basketball game has highs and lows, so does their friendship – and the court sees it all.
The play is overall a compelling story filled with highlights and upsets. King James is not about winners or losers, but about all those shots you take in life.
Tickets for the remaining Syracuse Stage performances are available online.