FAT HAM Gives Shakespeare an Unexpected Twist
In the thoughtfully updated and well-written Fat Ham, James Ijames reinvents Hamlet for contemporary audiences as the familiar plot explores current views of family, sexuality, and revenge with a mix of gravitas and humor. The Black Rep’s production, directed with finesse by Geovanday Jones, embraces the spirit of the original with a relatable, modern script that is surprisingly fresh, often darkly funny, and immensely entertaining.
Juicy’s father was recently killed while incarcerated, and although they had a complicated and at times volatile relationship Juicy still mourns the loss. Nonetheless, Juicy and Tio, a long-time friend, are currently setting up the backyard for a party to celebrate Juicy’s mother’s marriage to her new husband, who is also Juicy’s uncle. While Juicy is hanging decorations, the ghost of his father appears and reveals that Juicy’s uncle arranged his death. If you’re familiar with the Bard’s original script, you know the general direction this play is going to take – moving with purpose through suspicion and confirmation and ending in deadly revenge. What you may not expect are the family secrets, personal revelations, and humorously relatable scenes that twist Shakespeare’s original without losing its shape.
Director Jones and a talented cast embrace the complexity and nuances in Ijames script, and the result is compelling storytelling that holds interest even in moments that are familiar. Marshall W Mabry IV is accommodating and conflicted as Juicy, a character filled with contrasts. Bullied by his father and uncle as “soft” and taken for granted by his mother, Juicy is determined to move forward on his own terms, and Mabry excels in capturing our sympathy without pity. Juicy navigates the desire for revenge, ambiguous feelings about his mother’s quick remarriage, and the misuse of his tuition money alongside his need to choose his future and live his truth and sexuality openly and honestly. There’s an underlying resilience to Juicy wrought from pain and disappointment, and a sense of purpose cultivated from necessity and self-preservation that’s wrapped in clarity. Mabry’s performance embraces Juicy’s truth, creating a fully realized and captivating character delivered with conviction, intelligence, and wit.
As Juicy’s mother Tedra, Angela Wildflower is self-absorbed in a way that suggests a woman who has convinced herself she’s made the best choice she can among the limited options available. Enoch King is a force of nature and blustering false confidence as Juicy’s uncle and the ghost of Juicy’s father, two men who will not hesitate to use intimidation and violence to get their way. Brian McKinley is unexpectedly touching and effective as Larry, Juicy’s closest childhood friend, and a man trying to find comfort in his own skin. The attraction and tension between Larry and Juicy is palpable from the first moment they lock eyes. Larry’s change from his stiff military uniform into a sparkling disco outfit perfectly encapsulates his personal journey with a touch of uncertainty and a slight wobble in his strut that’s endearing. Olajuwon Davis adds humor with a welcome lack of judgement as Tio, Raevyn Ferguson is spirited and supportive as Opal, and Margery Handy, as Rabby, convincingly shifts from sharp-tongued to warmly supportive. In addition to smart direction and staging by Jones, the cast receive strong technical support from a creative team that includes scenic and lighting designer Patrick Huber, sound designer Tre’von Griffith, costumer Andre Harrington, props designer Mikhail Lynn, and stage manager Courtnee Rouse.
Arguably the most important testament to the enduring quality of the works of William Shakespeare is how resonant and inspiring his plays are 425 (or thereabout) years later. Social norms, laws, and technology have changed, but the character archetypes and themes remain relevant and applicable centuries after the plays were written. With a contemporary setting in the American South and generations of tradition and struggle as its backdrop, The Black Rep’s production of Fat Ham, recommended for mature teens and adults, subverts the audience’s expectations by delivering an often uproariously funny interpretation of Hamlet filled with warmth as well as revenge. While events don’t unfold exactly as you may expect in Ijames smartly reconstructed play, the production is immensely entertaining. The final show of the company’s 49th season, Fat Ham is a surprisingly humorous take on a Shakespearean tragedy that expertly transforms the familiar into something new and fresh.
