The Cleveland Play House offered a persuasive and compelling production of Rajiv Joseph’s King James, March 1—23,
It was an appropriate scheduling choice, not only to honor “March Madness,” but more importantly, to recognize the role sports can play in a difficult task — finding common ground between strangers. Locals still recall the shared area-wide joy when the Cleveland Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA championship title. It’s easy to find YouTube clips such as this one showing the emotion generated by that final game.
Aspiring fiction writer Shawn (Robert Hunter) and bartender Matt (Michael Patrick Trimm) first meet in 2004. Shawn drops by Matt’s workplace to buy tickets for the Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s a time of hope because Akron native LeBron James is on the team. As the years pass (and the play continues) their friendship deepens. Finally, it’s 2016 and the Cavs win the NBA championship game.
Director Monteze Freeland ably shows us that despite the title, Joseph’s play isn’t about LeBron James. It’s about finding common ground and friendship. At first, Shawn and Matt have little in common except the love of Cleveland’s pro basketball team. Over the years their relationship matures; they come to see each other as family. Both Hunter and Trimm persuade us that they are whom they portray.
Scenic design by Tony Ferrieri added Cleveland touches, such as the art deco-stained glass windows above the bar, and the eccentric offerings (a stuffed armadillo!) in Matt’s family’s store. Jeffrey Van Curtis (costumes), Jakyung Seo (lighting), Howard Patterson (sound), and Jasmine A. Golphin (projection design) contributed to making scenes look Cleveland-centric.
Bottom Line: The 2016 welcome home parade, when over a million Clevelanders filled downtown to celebrate the Cav’s triumphant return from defeating the Golden State Warriors, still lingers in local memories. Joseph’s play reminds us of the joy generated by sharing common values (and victories).
[Written by Laura Kennelly]
