Most people who have followed my site know I am not the biggest sports fan. It’s not that I have anything against sports but most of the time I find the games very slow and boring. There might be a moment here or there that’s exciting but a lot of it is not very interesting. What I do like, however, is when sports can be used as a tool to tell stories- both stories of the games but also the fans and other elements that make sports work. Such is what is being offered at Pioneer Theatre’s new play King James. This is at their Meldrum theater and it is one of the most authentic and genuine depictions of male friendship I have seen in a long time.

In the play 2 young men are introduced to us who are both massive Cleveland basketball fans. Matt played by Eli Mayer is selling his season tickets to Shawn played by Khiry Walker. This begins in 2003 when LeBron James is a rookie player and continues through their friendship in 2016. During these years James goes from fan favorite to a source of betrayal back to being a favorite again.

In the end, the basketball is irrelevant to the story. It’s simply a means to an end to bring these 2 men together and give them something to build their relationship upon. The play isn’t about basketball but about this friendship instead. The love is always there but over the years the closeness ebs and flows as both men are flawed and speak out of turn on occasion. I can think of lots of great plays about female friendship like Silent Sky or Steel Magnolias but not as many about male friendship.

It’s also clever how Miriam Laube alludes to the title King James and the King James Bible by having the early sections in a bar made (set design Jo Winiarski) from a restored church with stained glass and all. Like so many people basketball is a religion to these men and James is their Jesus figure. That may be too strong a comparison but the imagery is definitely an aspect of the play.

Sometimes two-hander plays like King James can be slow and hard for me to become invested in but director Miriam Laube keeps the energy moving and both performers are so good (and are believable as friends) that I never felt bored.

The other elements of the play are simple but affecting. Especially if you enjoy friendship stories you’ll really enjoy this play at PTC. It’s worthy of your time. King James is playing until April 4th and tickets can be found here.

King James is a play written by Rajiv Joseph and it first premiered at the Steppenwolf in 2022.

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