The spotlight is on Fat Ham, the critically acclaimed play that’s serving up a hearty dose of drama, humour, and Southern flavour in Toronto.
On until Mar. 9 at the Berkeley Street Theatre, American playwright James Ijames’ thought-provoking production brings fresh perspectives to a classic Shakespearean tale, offering a seamless blend of modern-day humour and deep emotional resonance.
Directed by award-winning creative Philip Akin, Fat Ham is a contemporary reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, set within a Southern American family gathering. The story is centered around Juicy, a queer college student who is grappling with the loss of his father and the complicated relationships with those around him. The play, which has an all-Black cast, is both witty and introspective, offering a unique theatrical experience for all.
Toronto’s Peter Fernandes steps into the role of Juicy, and describes his feelings towards the play, produced by Canadian Stage, as “exciting” and “a little bit scary.” Fernandes fell in love with the script long before it headed to the North, after working on its Broadway production behind the scenes.
“This will be an introduction to the piece for a lot of people. Maybe some people have seen it on Broadway or have heard about it. But for a lot of Canadians, it’ll be their first experience of the show,” Fernandes told Now Toronto.
“People get a chance to come to it fresh,” Akin added.
“And I love the idea that, if the show is done anywhere else in the country, I can say we did it first!”
Fernandes is sure to bring a vibrant, layered energy to the role, balancing the play’s moments of hilarity with its heavier themes. A portrayal that is both heartfelt and complex, he says that the audience is sure to resonate with Juicy just as much as he has.
“There are a lot of questions about how he fits in his body, how he fits in his family, how he fits in the American South as well, and a lot of questions about what space he can carve out for himself,” Fernandes explained.
“I think right now especially, my very existence is political… and that comes with burdens. I exist in a lot of institutions that are primarily white, and I think me walking into those buildings and feeling that difference, or seeing how I’m viewed, or maybe sometimes the roles I get to play, that is a burden, and that is something that I could very much connect to when exploring that same frustration in Juicy.”
Fernandes is joined by amazing, Black cast members including Virgilia Griffith, Tawiah M’Carhy, and Tony Ofori. Akin, with a career spanning nearly five decades and known for the advancement of Black creatives in the country, highlighted the importance of seeing positive Black stories on stage.
“I always wanted to present human beings – Black human beings – on the stage in all their complexity,” he explained.
“Usually, a lot of plays use Black people for effect. They’re stereotypes, prototypes, ambrotypes, archetypes… they’re not real people… I want to make sure that nobody can see one of my shows and not be faced fully with the fact that we are human beings.”
Fernandes agreed, and said that while the themes of the play showcases the effects of generational trauma and violence, it also offers a glimpse of Black joy, often a rarity in portrayals of the racialized community.
“Even with all these themes that can be perceived as negative, there is Black joy in there,” he said.
“There is a breaking away from certain cycles of violence and trauma, and we should weigh that as much, if not more, of so much value on stage.”
Fat Ham is an exploration of impactful themes bound to extend far beyond the stage. Through its captivating portrayal of emotional depth, laughter, and relevance in the backdrop of a cookout, Fernandes’ only hope is that theatregoers stop by for a good time.
“I would love people to come in and laugh, maybe sing, maybe dance a little bit… I also want people to be hungry,” he laughed.
“But be satiated at the end,” Akin added.
