Beethoven’s “Symphony No.
5” is considered one of the most recognizable and influential pieces of music created in history.
In 1976, Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band scored a No.
Nikki Crawford, Billy Eugene Jones, Benja Kay Thomas, Marcel Spears, Adrianna Mitchell, and Calvin Leon Smith in ‘Fat Ham’.Joan Marcus
1 hit with “A Fifth of Beethoven,” off the blockbusterSaturday Night Feversoundtrack.
Murphy adapted the first movement of “Symphony No.
TheSaturday Night Feversoundtrack is in the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress for its cultural significance.
Marcel Spears and Billy Eugene Jones in ‘Fat Ham’.Joan Marcus
Fat Hamis likeA Fifth of Shakespeare.
The Broadway production, directed by Saheem Ali, premieres April 12 at the American Airlines Theater in NYC.
Fat Hamisn’t a line-for-line recreation ofHamlet, which is also Shakespeare’s longest play.
‘Fat Ham’ on Broadway.Joan Marcus
This dynamic turnsFat Haminto a meditation on masculinity and generational trauma.
Of course, Juicy is no prince and Pap was no king; he owned a barbecue restaurant.
They’re not poor, more like lower middle class.
Marcel Spears and Calvin Leon Smith in ‘Fat Ham’.Joan Marcus
Pap pawned Tedra’s wedding ring to buy a freezer for the restaurant.
Yeah, the online one.
Juicy, Rev, Pap, and Tedra, theirs is the American Dream deferred.
Adrianna Mitchell and Benja Kay Thomas in ‘Fat Ham’.Joan Marcus
When Juicy asks Tedra if she’s happy, she asks “What’s happy?”
Juicy hopes to be happy, even if that means studying human resources at the University of Phoenix.
His softness is his saving grace.
‘Fat Ham’ on Broadway.Marc J. Franklin
Larry (Calvin Leon Smith), the Laertes of this play, tells him as much.
Oh, and it’s a comedy.
That’s the rub.Hamletis an orgy of sadness and death (400-year-old spoiler!)
Adrianna Mitchell, Chris Herbie Holland and, Marcel Spears in ‘Fat Ham’.Joan Marcus
literally every major character, except Horatio, dies at the end.
The characters are vibrant.
Spears, in turn, gets a shot at the spotlight, performing Radiohead’s classic “Creep.”
This is Broadway, so it feels more natural inFat Ham.
Though I can’t help thinking it also felt a little lazy.
And the ending seemed a bit tacked on to me.
Still, I left the theater thoroughly entertained.
Some of the jokes felt forced, particularly with the character Tio (Chris Herbie Holland).
That’s not necessarily a bad thing unless you hate streaming shows.
ThoughFat Hamis a retelling ofHamlet, it stands on its own merit.
You don’t have to go in knowing anything about the 400-year-old play I certainly didn’t.
I know, I know.Sacrilege.
There have been so many iterations ofHamletover the past four centuries, how could I have missed it?
“To be or not to be” (whichFat Hamwisely avoids repeating).
“Alas, poor Yorick.”
“To thine own self be true.”
It’s like the greatest hits of English literature all in one play.
Which is whyFat Hamfeels so fresh and clever.
The credo ofFat Hamis that famous quote about being true to thine own self.
That advice was given to Laertes, not Hamlet, who probably could’ve used it.
Juicy, however, follows it to a tee.
