Matt (Gregg Weiner) and Shawn (Melvin Huffnagle) in GableStage's production of "King James." (Photo by Magnus Stark)
During a time of division in the U.S., it is refreshing to witness people of different races bond over a common interest. That is what happens in “King James,” an invigorating slice-of-life play by Rajiv Joseph that celebrates friendship and basketball.
Under Ruben Carrazana’s careful direction, the two-hour production, which includes a 15-minute intermission, kicks off GableStage’s 2024-25 season and runs through Sunday, Nov. 24 at the Coral Gables theater.
The production stars gifted South Florida performers Melvin Huffnagle and Gregg Weiner. With believability, variety, and nuance, they portray two Cleveland, Ohio residents who become friends after learning they are both die-hard Cleveland Cavaliers fans.
More specifically, the smart, funny and touching “King James” follows the 12-year relationship between Shawn, who is Black, and Matt, who is white.
Shawn (Melvin Huffnagle, right) feels competitive in a scene from GableStage's production. Pictured on the left is Matt (Gregg Weiner). (Photo by Magnus Stark)
They meet in 2004, basketball great LeBron James’s rookie season with the Cavaliers, and the two men remain friends through at least 2016. That is when the Cavaliers became National Basketball Association (NBA) champions, marking the first professional sports championship for a Cleveland team in more than 50 years.
Joseph, a 2010 Pulitzer Prize finalist for his play, “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo,” writes lively prose and cleverly structures “King James.” Specifically, Joseph divides the play into four parts, corresponding to basketball’s four quarters.
The first quarter takes place in February 2004, and Joseph titles it “Rookie of the Year” for an obvious reason.
The second quarter, “The Decision,” is set in July 2010. The title refers to James’ shocking choice as an unrestricted free agent to leave the Cavaliers and sign with the Miami Heat, joining Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. James, Wade, and Bosh were teammates in Beijing and helped deliver gold for the U.S. in Olympic basketball. James’s move to Miami angered Cleveland’s fan base, especially over the way he publicly announced on national TV, “I’m taking my talents to South Beach.”
Shawn (Melvin Huffngale) ponders sports in GableStage's season-opening production of "King James." (Photo by Magnus Stark)
Following intermission (or “halftime”) of the play, part three takes place in July 2014. This section’s appropriate title is “Return of the King.” That’s because after winning two championships with the Miami Heat, James returned to the Cavaliers. And that brings us to the fourth quarter, in June 2016, when the Cavaliers defeat the Golden State Warriors to win the NBA championship. “The Parade” is the final quarter’s title, referring to the Cavaliers’ celebration in downtown Cleveland.
While you do not have to be a basketball fan to find value in “King James,” doing research on the sport before attending wouldn’t hurt. Indeed, the piece includes names and terms that may be foreign to people new to the sport.
Mostly, though, the play examines Shawn’s and Matt’s complex, imperfect relationship. With its moments of joy and instances of conflict, it’s the kind of bond that you may recognize from your own life or that of someone you know or love.
“King James” uses basketball as a springboard to explore different themes. They include dreams, relationships, fandom, celebrity, ambition, and race, as well as the way that sports can unite people and boost a city’s economy and pride.
“King James” grabs our attention from the beginning and doesn’t let go. That is partly because, from the outset, Shawn and Matt each strongly desire something. In particular, Matt needs cash after making a bad investment. While he has a bartending job, Matt’s parents have refused to help him with his debts because of his previous bad deals. Instead, they suggest that he sell their Cavaliers season tickets to raise money to pay off his creditors. Naturally, Matt can’t be happy about having to do this; he has regularly attended Cavaliers games since his childhood.
During the second act, the action switches to a antiques store in the Cleveland area on the set created by Frank J. Oliva with Matt (Gregg Weiner, left) and Shawn (Melvin Huffnagle, right). (Photo by Magnus Stark)
Meanwhile, Shawn, a writer, has just published his first story and wishes to reward himself with the ticket package that Matt is selling. The two men meet at La Cave du Vin, the wine bar in Cleveland Heights where Matt works.
After the pair negotiates a final price and Shawn buys the package, Matt learns that his new friend has nobody to accompany him to the games. Fortunately, Matt agrees to attend the games with Shawn. And this marks the start of a new relationship. It’s not always warm and cozy, but which relationship in life is perfect?
Joseph’s play deftly captures the highs and lows of male friendships, and the piece’s ending is particularly uplifting. It ends, literally, on a high note. As a result, we leave the theater feeling good – and perhaps wishing that we could spend more time with these characters.
Under Carrazana’s astute direction and smart staging, the performers deliver impressively naturalistic performances. They sound and look as though they are saying the playwright’s words for the first time. In addition to their spoken lines, the actors find nonverbal ways to express their characters’ feelings toward each other. Also, to his credit, Carrazana has obviously instructed his actors to move around the stage and engage in actions while they speak instead of just sitting still and talking.
Huffnagle, a tall performer with a booming voice, lends Shawn seemingly effortless charisma and a commanding presence.
Contrastingly, Weiner delivers a more understated performance as Matt, a man who seems to carry an air of disappointment and a tendency toward dry wit. But the actor ensures that Matt never comes across as unlikable.
Behind the scenes, scenic designer Frank J. Oliva’s realistic, tasteful, and detailed depiction of the wine bar is impressive and sometimes symbolic. For instance, after James leaves Cleveland for Miami, the seats in the wine bar are upside down. This might suggest that the business lost customers after the star athlete took his talents to South Beach.
Matt (Gregg Weiner) and Shawn (Melvin Huffnagle) compete in a one-on-one basketball style matchup. (Photo by Magnus Stark)
Tony Galaska’s lighting design illuminates the space realistically, and sound designer Sean McGinley ensures that we can hear and understand the performers.
Projection designer Steven Covey includes clips of live basketball action which further enliven the production. Speaking of basketball action, the characters sometimes feel competitive and play one on one without a basketball court. It’s just Matt, Shawn, a wastepaper basket and a crumpled-up paper standing in for a basketball. Nevertheless, such action lends the production extra energy.
While it celebrates friendship and basketball, “King James,” in the end, suggests that we take advantage of opportunities to be successful. That is what James did when he left Cleveland for Miami, according to Matt.
“He’s doing the right thing,” Matt tells Shawn. “Everyone’s angry. Everyone hates him for it. But he’s doing the right thing. We all should all be trying to do what he’s doing. We should all put ourselves in the best position to succeed.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: GableStage Theatre Company’s production of “King James.”
WHEN: Through Sunday, Nov. 24
WHERE: GableStage’s theater next to the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Ave. in Coral Gables.
TICKETS AND INFORMATION: Go to www.gablestage.org or call (305) 445-1119.
