Read the full article by Patti Roberts at Sacramento News & Review
Two men meet in a Cleveland bar and slowly start an unlikely friendship through their mutual love of LeBron James, also known as “King James.” Capital Stage’s current “King James” explores male friendship — the hesitance and awkwardness of slowly getting to know each other in a profound way, while not exposing too many emotions.
The play shows the growing camaraderie of bar owner Matt (Ian C. Hopps) and Shawn (Tarig Elsiddig), who is interested in Matt’s season tickets he’s selling. At first, they banter and bargain over the ticket prices but find themselves bonding over the admiration of their hometown hero, and Cleveland native James.
Matt and Shawn are bilingual — they speak both in English and sports-coded bro-talk, sometimes squabbling over plays and games, and other times revealing just a bit of their lives. “King James” is sprinkled with lots of humor as the two get to know each other over a span of 12 years, from James’ rookie years on the Cleveland Cavaliers through his departure to Miami and his eventual return to his hometown team.