Basketball and Bro-Banter Build a Nuanced Friendship in Capital Stage’s ‘King James’

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.

“King James” is in four acts, mirroring basketball’s four quarters. It encompasses the arc of LeBron’s career and of Matt and Shawn’s friendship: including wins and losses; missteps and misunderstandings; angst and anger.

Hopps and Elsiddig are a perfect pair, displaying humor and pathos in their characters’ friendship journey. The camaraderie between the two actors is evident under the watchful eye of Director Michael Stevenson. The added plus is Hopps’ myriad facial expressions, which captures as many emotions as his dialogue.

The first half of the play is in a Cleveland bar at the beginning of LeBron’s career and the blossoming of the friendship. The year is 2003, with props including flip phones, a Walkman, and print newspapers. The second half is in the curio shop owned by Matt, where lots of antiques and knickknacks are displayed.

“King James” is a fun, humorous and thought-provoking play.

Playwright Rajiv Joseph, a Cleveland native and loyal Cavaliers fan, explains his premise of men’s hesitance to expose themselves emotionally.

“Team sports are so much of one’s identity; one’s upbringing, one’s family and friends that’s connected to the performance of a team,” Joseph said. “At least in the sort of heteronormative world in which I grew up, it was a struggle for young American men to communicate emotion.”

The play is two hours and 15 minutes with one intermission. ”King James” plays through July 27; Wednesday to Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. 2215 J St. CapStage.