King James NYC Reviews and Tickets

84%
(115 Reviews)
Positive
94%
Mixed
6%
Negative
0%
Members say
Great acting, Absorbing, Entertaining, Great writing, Funny

Two unlikely friends bond over their futures that are linked to the legacy of LeBron James.

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Member Reviews (115)

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684 Reviews | 133 Followers
90
Great staging, Entertaining, Absorbing, Funny, Great acting

See it if About a friendship that starts with the love of basketball that last over time thru good and bad.

Don't see it if you want alot of action on stage, dancing and sing.

68 Reviews | 10 Followers
90
Relevant, Great staging, Funny, Entertaining, Absorbing

See it if you like 'small' productions that live or die on their dialogue. Both actors are on top of their game. This is a thniking person's drama.

Don't see it if you are expecting 'car crashes' or dramatic twists or explosive surprises. There are 'skips', but ones we should be familiar with.

160 Reviews | 8 Followers
88
Profound, Funny, Clever

See it if You think a play about bonds over sports might be interesting.

Don't see it if You think plays that are mostly about characters singular relationships isn't enough to entertain you. Read more

396 Reviews | 83 Followers
88
Great writing, Relevant, Engaging

See it if looking for an intelligent, funny & moving play about male comradery, written with a great ear for dialog, with two great lead performances.

Don't see it if you don't like two-hander plays, or looking for a big production. This modest play is beautifully staged and these characters will touch you Read more

125 Reviews | 9 Followers
88
Intelligent, Great acting, Entertaining

See it if Solid and smart play, expertly directed and acted

Don't see it if some portions feel weaker/thinner than others - typical problems of a "two-hander" play

151 Reviews | 26 Followers
88
Highly recommend, Funny, Relevant, Great acting, Entertaining

See it if you like a story told over the years of a developing friendship. The basketball and Lebron James were fun markers of time and interest.

Don't see it if If you prefer a musical or bigger show. This was an intimate portrait. Both actors did a great job.

295 Reviews | 22 Followers
87
Quirky, Entertaining, Absorbing

See it if You like small plays about friendship. You like stories that involve sports.

Don't see it if You have zero knowledge of basketball. You’ll be follow the play, but it’s a stronger play if you have at least a small understanding. Read more

50 Reviews | 7 Followers
87
Great acting, Entertaining, Clever

See it if you want to see a show about the ups and downs of friendships. you do not need to know sports to see this!

Don't see it if you don't want to see a play. There are not many reasons not to see it. The energy is great, with a DJ going before and during the show

Critic Reviews (13)

The New York Times
May 16th, 2023

"His [Joseph] work here is a strong analysis of friendship dynamics built along, but not hinged upon, the issues that divide them."
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New York Magazine / Vulture
May 18th, 2023

"The play’s trick is the same one that undergirds so many friendships: They’re both built around something quotidian, whether it’s basketball or not, that stands in for so much more"
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The Wall Street Journal
May 18th, 2023

“ 'King James' explores how a passionate interest in any collective endeavor we have no actual part in can nevertheless enrich and enlarge our lives, even if it also, paradoxically, can sometimes leave us feeling diminished."
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New York Theatre Guide
May 17th, 2023

" 'King James' abandons its hopes of resonance for a world of vanity and convenience, its conflicts not resolved but dissolved."
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Theatermania
May 16th, 2023

"...the larger point of 'King James' is how two friends get past the fouls and keep playing...It’s one of the best plays you’ll see this year as well."
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Talkin' Broadway
May 16th, 2023

" 'King James' really isn't my kind of thing, and a working knowledge of layups and power forwards and the last 20 years of the NBA would probably help a lot. Anyhow, the basketball fans in the audience seemed to love it, and they represent a far younger, more diverse crowd than Manhattan Theatre Club typically draws. Let's cheer it for that."
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New York Stage Review
May 16th, 2023

"The playwright beautifully captures the vagaries of friendship, including the power imbalance dependencies that can affect them and the careless misunderstandings that can rupture them."
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New York Stage Review
May 16th, 2023

"It’s a thrill to watch these two guys [Chris Perfetti and Glenn Davis] face off in Joseph’s theatrical game of one-on-one."
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