The Essence of Hamlet

Fat Ham

In case you haven’t heard of him, James Ijames is a much-accoladed and talented actor, director and, most notably, playwright. His written work is incredible, especially since he brings a delightfully unexpected element of magical realism to many of his plays. Chicago audiences enjoyed his surrealistic THE MOST SPECTACULARLY LAMENTABLE TRIAL OF MIZ MARTHA WASHINGTON at Steppenwolf Theatre. In his 2022 Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy, FAT HAM, now in a glorious production at the Goodman Theatre, Ijames has taken the essence of Shakespeare’s tragedy classic, HAMLET, and molded it into (believe it or not) a contemporary one-act comedy.

After a successful run at New York’s Public Theater, the production moved to Broadway. Following an extended run in 2023, the acclaimed production was nominated for five Tony Awards. The play is set at a celebratory backyard barbecue wedding reception, following the sudden marriage between the central character’s mother and uncle. This hilarious and often touching play is directed with great feeling and ferocity by the founding Artistic Director of Definition Theatre, Tyrone Philips. Mr. Philips explains that this co-production between Definition and Goodman is a natural fit, because they both share the mission of ensuring that people of color see themselves, both on and off the stage. 

The cast is comprised of a talented ensemble of African-American actors who invite Chicago audiences to lose themselves in Ijames’ 90-minute comedic riff on Hamlet, Ophelia, Horatio and other Bard characters. Our contemporary, corpulent Hamlet is named Juicy, and he’s tenderly portrayed with heart and a conflicted conscience by Trumane Alston. Dressed all in black, like the melancholy Dane, this gifted actor plays a soft young man who is Black, queer and tortured by the murder of his bullying father, Pap. The brutal killing recently took place in prison while Pap was serving time for arbitrarily killing a young employee at his restaurant. The assassination was (not so secretly) orchestrated by Rev, Pap’s jealous brother and Juicy’s uncle. Both the ghost of Pap and Juicy’s new stepdad, Rev, are played with brutal machismo and homophobic glee by Ronald L. Conner. Tedra, Juicy’s sexy mother, who’s torn between her love for her son and a blind devotion to her new husband, is beautifully portrayed with hip style and gusto by Anji White.

Supporting players include a very funny Victor Musoni as Juicy’s funky cousin Tio (short for Horatio). He and Juicy share the horror of seeing Pap’s ghost at the beginning of the story. In the play’s 11th hour Mr. Musoni delivers a hilarious monologue that stops the show. Ireon Roach is feisty and fantastic as Opal, Ijames’ stand-in for the character of Ophelia. Forced by her mother to wear an uncharacteristic frilly dress to the backyard barbecue, Ms. Roach shares some great scenes with Mr. Alston. We learn, among other things about Opal, that she prefers the company of other women, which horrifies her Bible-thumping mother. Her handsome brother Larry, played by Jeff Award-winner Sheldon D. Brown, is wonderful as a soft-spoken Marine who admits he harbors a love for his childhood friend, Juicy. But in the final scene, Mr. Brown pulls out all the stops in a cathartic lip-syncing performance that simply slays. He effortlessly gets everyone up and moving to the music. And in yet another monumentally memorable performance, the bodacious and bombastic Ms. E. Faye Butler completely steals the show as Rabby, a family friend and the mother of Opal and Larry. One of Chicago’s favorites, this talented actor’s outlandish ad libs keep the audience laughing all night long.

The Goodman’s creative technical team have added so much to this production. Arnel Sancianco’s authentically realistic Scenic Design features Juicy’s suburban home, backed by a grassy yard and a wooden deck. Lit with a festive, sometimes supernatural atmosphere by Jason Lynch, the backyard fete features a huge barbecue grill, lots of edible food and drink and a variety of trashy party decor. For this show, Jos N. Banks has outdone himself with his Costume Designs. Especially grand are all of the women’s couture (Ms. Butler’s purple ensemble is absolutely divine) and, in particular, Larry’s drag costume for his coming out number.

Audiences in search of a funny, unusual and new evening of theatre will relish James Ijames’ humorous and heartbreaking FAT HAM. Theatergoers need not be familiar with the Shakespearean plot that provides the essence of HAMLET in this superb comic drama. Skillfully brought to life by a seven-member company of gifted actors, and dynamically Directed by Tyrone Philips, this hour-and-a-half of hilarity is guaranteed to warm up a cold winter evening.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented January 11-March 2 in the Owen Theatre venue by the Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, Chicago. 

Tickets are available in person at the Goodman box office, by calling 312-443-3800 or by going to www.GoodmanTheatre.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.