'King James' Rules At The Mark Taper Forum

(l-r) Glenn Davis and Chris Perfetti in 'King James'
photo by Craig Schwartz Photography

By Darlene Donloe

King James sneaks up on you.

It starts off like it’s going to be about basketball, and in a way it is. But it’s so much more.

In reality, King James, now playing at the Mark Taper Forum through July 3, 2022, is really a play about friendship with basketball as a backdrop.

This is the story.

Basketball great “King” LeBron James’s reign in Cleveland brings promise, prosperity, and renewal to a city in desperate need of all three. It also brings together two men who communicate best when they are talking and arguing about sports.

King James, directed by Kenny Leon, is an intimate exploration of the place that sports and athletes occupy in our emotional lives and relationships. It explores the star player’s impact on Cleveland, from his rookie season to the city’s historic championship, and the lives of these two unlikely friends (Shawn and Matt) whose turbulent relationship is best navigated through their shared love of the sport in a verbal game of one-on-one. LeBron James is never seen in the show, but he serves as a symbol for the hopes, desires, and fears that they have bottled up since childhood.

The steady-paced show is presented to represent significant moments in James’ career starting with his rookie year, the year he left the Cavs for the Miami Heat when he returned to Cleveland and the year the Cavs won their first NBA championship.

You’d be hard-pressed to find two bigger King James fans than Shawn (Glenn Davis) and Matt (Chris Perfetti). Both men are the ultimate Cleveland Cavaliers fans, who strike up an improbable friendship anchored by their love of sports and their love and hate relationship with LeBron James.

Matt works at La Cave du Vin, an upscale wine bar in Cleveland Heights, where the first act action takes place.

Shawn, a Black writer has heard that Matt has some Cleveland Cavaliers season tickets to sell and is willing to shell out $2,000 to treat himself. You see, even though he’s a die-hard fan, Shawn has never been to a game in person.

Matt wants more money, after all, they are season tickets and he has bills to pay. One thing leads to another and Matt sells Shawn the tickets after he realizes he isn’t a “bandwagon fan.”

He then asks, “who are you going to take?”  Shawn hadn’t exactly thought that part through.  So, the two of them go together and thus start their friendship.

Their friendship hits a snag when Matt, who is white, proclaims that things would be better if LeBron James “knew his place.”  Shawn, who is Black, takes offense to the statement – essentially wondering out loud what Matt means by the perceived racist statement.

The two-part ways and the friendship becomes fractured. However, there is still an attachment because Shawn has struck up a true friendship with Matt’s mother, who owns a novelty store.

(l-r) Chris Perfetti and Glenn Davis in 'King James'
photo by Craig Schwartz Photography

Shawn leaves for Los Angeles to work on a television show and Matt, who said he would never do it, begins working in his family’s eccentric novelty store.

When Shawn returns, he drops by the novelty store and looks up Matt.

Their initial meeting is tense, but things ease up when they decide to play basketball using one of the wicker baskets.

Glenn Davis (one of the artistic directors of Steppenwolf Theatre Company and an ensemble acting member), as Shawn, is believable as a wide-eyed, die-hard fan. He’s the more level-headed of the two and treasures the friendship the two have created.

Chris Perfetti, who stars in Abbott Elementary on ABC, as Matt, plays an equally believable insecure white man. He’s quirky and a bit all over the place, but he has a good heart.

(l-r) Glenn Davis and Chris Perfetti star in 'King James'
photo by Chris Schwartz Photography

The best parts of the show are when the two are debating each other on the merits of LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan.

Matt believes LeBron, even as a rookie, has “already eclipsed Jordan.”  Shawn replies, “He hasn’t done anything yet,” to which Matt says, “Don’t matter. It’s implicational.”

King James is a satisfying two-character comedy/drama. Davis and Perfetti have palpable chemistry, which moves the show forward. You find yourself rooting for both men in their quest for satisfaction. King James is an incredibly enjoyable production helmed by Tony-winner Kenny Leon.

Actually, Khloe Janel is a DJ, standing in a booth offstage, keeping the audience rockin' by playing R&B and pop songs during the pre-show, in between scenes, and during intermission.

King James, directed by Kenny Leon and written by Rajiv Joseph, stars Glenn Davis and Chris Perfetti. 

Todd Rosenthal’s two, vastly different scenic designs are exceptional. Kudos to Samantha C. Jones (costume designer), Lee Fiskness (lighting designer), Rob Milburn, and Michael Bodeen (sound design).

On the DONLOE SCALE, D (don’t bother, O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah), and E (excellent), King James gets an E (excellent).

Running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes. There is one 15-minute intermission.

King James, Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, 8 p.m., Tues.-Fri.; 2:30 and 8 p.m. Sat.; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sun.; no Monday performances, through July 3; $30-$110; www.CenterTheatreGroup.org or 213 628 2772 or 213 972-7231.

COVID protocol: Proof of full vaccinations is required. Masks are also required.