Fat Ham, now playing at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Thomas Theatre, is not an easy play, but it’s wildly popular, especially with high school crowds, who welcome the sexual dialogue with screams of delight.
This comedy inspired by Hamlet earned its author, James Ijames, a Pulitzer Prize in 2023. Ijames has stated that he wanted a hopeful ending, one that didn’t require the death of all the characters.
Fat Ham takes place far from frozen Denmark. It's in the south. It’s steamy. It’s the land of backyard barbecues to celebrate the wedding of Tedra to Rev, the younger brother of her recently deceased husband called Pap.
Tedra’s son Juicy, alias Fat Ham, is a soft Black queer young man movingly played by Marshall Mabry IV. He has just seen his father’s ghost, surrounded by bright flashing lights. The ghost demands revenge. He wants Juicy to kill Rev for usurping his place. Juicy can’t imagine himself as a killer. Will he, or won’t he? That is the question.
As directed by Elizabeth Carter, the play is bolstered by special effects, shocking moments of violence, and excellent acting by the entire cast.
Lynnette Freeman is dazzling as Tedra, who is probably the most complex character. Aldo Billingslea plays both Pap and Rev. Davied Morales, Christian Denzel Bufford, Saran Evelyn Bakari and Shaunyce Omar all have time to shine and show their true selves.
A warning. When the audience was screaming, my smart watch told me the sound was at a dangerous level. Better take ear plugs!
