James Ijames Delights with Riotous Black Family Comedy

by Jenyth Jo

After twenty minutes of “Fat Ham,” a comical version of “Hamlet” set at a North Carolina backyard BBQ, it’s clear Juicy / Hamlet (Devin A. Cunningham) has been skewered and charred by the toxic flames of his out-of-date masculine role models. When Phaedra Tillery-Boughton’s Rabby (Polonius as hot pink mama) enters the party, we want this church lady to survive. Will the final act show bodies strewn on the stage like stockyard cattle, or will humor and Juicy’s hi-jinks shift to comedy?

Playwright James Ijames has original ideas for the villain’s poetic just desserts in this highly enjoyable reimagination of Shakespeare’s haunting masterpiece. More sit-com than tragedy, Ijames’ Pulitzer Prize-winning script offers laughter at the raucous Black family BBQ: saucy sex, dry rubs of trauma, and delicious desires—hidden under uniforms and dresses. In a Christmas-lit backyard, complete with trampoline, shed, and grill, Uncle Rev (Ron Chapman) has usurped his brother’s BBQ biz, wife, and home.

Sweet Juicy learns that abusive Rev has stolen his college fund, too, while his mama Tedra / Gertrude dismisses him. Then he learns his childhood pal Opal / Ophelia prefers girls. He spies her hip-hop basketball shorts under a high-collared, old-fashioned dress.

When Larry / Laertes (Samuel Ademola) joins the BBQ, crisp in his khaki green uniform, Juicy announces Larry’s “innocence is arousing.” But U.S. Marine Larry stays buttoned-up like a trussed chicken on a rotisserie. Larry’s trained to be hard, not soft, yet he yearns to bend his masculinity.

As spicy Tedra, Juicy’s newlywed mama, Jenn Stephens adds hip and hop to the wedding celebration. But her happy veneer soon cracks under pressure from her brother-in-law/husband. .

Juicy sings a sultry version of Radiohead’s “Creep: “I was special / I’m a creep / I’m a hero / I don’t belong here / So fuckin’ special.” Juicy’s hesitant voice grows in power as he transforms Hamlet’s soul-searching soliloquies: “What an ass am I / …a rogue and peasant slave… / Fie upon ‘t. Foh!” But nasty Uncle Rev encourages Juicy’s self-hatred: “You’ve always been soft,” as he leaves the party with a wave of disgust.

“Fat Ham” follows the original, with a game of Charades exposing that Rev killed Juicy’s dad. What might be a dramatic and deadly pantomime is rendered hilarious and satirical. Everyone knows who killed Pap, the BBQ pit king.

Tio (spectacular Jordan Covington) raps a victory lap with the intelligent archness of Mercutio, not Horatio. Never has singing and dancing while high appealed so much. The nimble Covington displays physical and vocal dexterity.

Best of all, the rousing, surprising final Karaoke number transforms them all, as liberated Larry leads the players in a Soul Train of epic proportions. Mama’s boy Juicy prevails in a world where love and authentic identities thrive, thrive best in pink and drag feathers.

 

“Fat Ham” by James Ijames, directed by Margo Hall, scenic design by Nina Ball, costumes by Lee Garber-Patel, lighting by Stephanie Johnson, sound by Ray Archie, at San Francisco Playhouse. Info: sfplayhouse.org – to April 19, 2025.

Cast: Samuel Ademola, Ron Chapman, Jordan Covington, Devin A. Cunningham, Jenn Stephens, Phaedra Tillery-Boughton, and Courtney Gabrielle Williams.

Banner photo: Juicy (Devin A. Cunningham), Larry (Samuel Ademola), Opal (Courtney Gabrielle Williams), Rabby (Phaedra Tillery-Boughton), and Tedra (Jenn Stephens). Photos: Jessica Palopoli