The following editions of the texts were used in the creation of this study guide: Ijames, James. Fat Ham. Theatre Communications Group, 2023. Kindle AZW file. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. The Arden Shakespeare, 2006.

The play is set at a house in North Carolina. Written in the 2020s, it loosely follows the plot of Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

The protagonist Juicy decorates the backyard for a wedding while his cousin, Tio, lies on a table. Juicy complains that Tio isn’t helping and mentions he’s mourning his father, who died a week ago. Juicy’s mother, Tedra, has already married his uncle, Rev, his father’s brother, which makes Juicy unhappy.

Juicy goes inside, leaving Tio alone. Tio sees the ghost of Juicy’s father, Pap, wearing a sheet like a children’s ghost costume. When Juicy returns, Tio tells him about the ghost, but Juicy is skeptical. After Tio goes inside, Pap reappears, removes the sheet saying he wore it in order to look more like a ghost, and warns Juicy about eating candy, reminding him of their family’s history with diabetes. Juicy taunts Pap, realizing the ghost can no longer control or punish him. Pap criticizes Juicy for being effeminate, and Juicy reflects on their strained relationship, revealing Pap went to prison for killing someone because they had bad breath. Juicy informs Pap that Rev has married Tedra. Pap reveals that Rev orchestrated his murder in prison and demands Juicy avenge him by killing Rev. Juicy refuses, and Pap disappears.

Tio returns, and Juicy tells him about seeing Pap’s ghost. Juicy recounts Pap’s message, and he and Tio discuss whether Juicy could kill Rev. Tio shares insights from his therapy sessions, encouraging Juicy to break his family’s cycle of violence and trauma.

Juicy’s uncle Rev arrives and Tio leaves. Rev criticizes Juicy’s black clothes and tells him to change into something more celebratory. Juicy leaves to change. Juicy returns in a new outfit, which Rev also criticizes. Rev mocks Juicy for being “soft” and punches him during a demonstration of strength, ignoring Tedra’s attempts to intervene.

After Rev leaves, Tedra tells Juicy that she and Rev have spent all of Juicy’s college tuition renovating the bathroom. Rev re-enters with Larry, a family friend in the military. Rev contrasts Larry’s ambition and stoicism with Juicy’s perceived shortcomings. Larry responds monosyllabically to Rev’s questions, and Rev leads him inside to see the cooking setup.

Juicy addresses the audience, recalling how his dad burned a Black Barbie his mom bought him as a child, saying Juicy should act like other boys. Tedra enters, aware Juicy is speaking to the audience, and asks what he’s been saying. She indirectly asks if he’s gay, and his ambiguous answer leads her to making offensive comments.

Rabby (Larry’s mother) and her daughter Opal join them. Rev discusses the meal while Juicy steps aside. Tedra takes Rabby and Larry inside to show them the bathroom, leaving Juicy and Opal alone. They discuss her dress, which she dislikes, and Juicy’s human resources degree. Juicy asks if Opal has killed anyone; she hasn’t but thinks she could. Juicy admits he plans to kill someone but doesn’t say who. Opal reveals she’s a lesbian.

The group returns, and Rev says Grace before they eat. Afterward, Tedra suggest they do karaoke, urging Juicy to join in. He performs “Creep” by Radiohead, which Rev mocks. Juicy proposes a game of charades. To the audience, Juicy performs a soliloquy from Hamlet about revealing the guilt of a murderer through a play.

Tedra starts charades, dividing the group into elders vs. the younger generation. Rabby mimes Do the Right Thing, which Tedra guesses correctly. Larry suggests Juicy go next. Juicy reluctantly acts out what he says is a book called The Preacher Killed the Cook, hinting at Rev arranging the murder of Pap. This angers Rev, who storms inside, followed by Tedra, Rabby, and Opal, leaving Juicy and Larry alone.

Juicy asks Larry if he has killed anyone. Larry admits he has and regrets losing his softness. He confesses feelings for Juicy but fears being seen and leaves. Tedra enters, warning Juicy to stop provoking Rev. Pap’s ghost reappears, visible only to Juicy, urging him to avenge his death. Juicy tells Tedra that Rev arranged Pap’s murder and suggests she confront him. Tedra leaves when Rev calls for her.

Juicy cries alone until Tio returns with beer, wearing new sneakers bought from their friend Yorick’s mom, who is selling them to cover funeral costs after Yorick’s overdose. Larry and Opal join, and the four discuss their dreams: Tio wants a cannabis boutique, Opal a shooting range, Juicy to work in HR, and Larry surprises them by admitting he wants to be a performer.

Rabby interrupts, asking Opal for help, but Opal refuses. Rabby criticizes Juicy’s online degree, provoking Juicy to snap. When Rabby calls Juicy a sissy, he reveals Larry is gay. Larry, furious at being outed, confronts Juicy, slamming his face onto a table, and accuses him of cruelty. As Larry leaves, Rabby hugs him, saying she’s proud. Inspired, Opal also comes out to her mom Rabby as gay, and Rabby shares that she used to be a stripper. Tio offers liquor to calm everyone down and shares a story about a VR gaming experience that, while surreal and absurd, made him imagine a world focused on pleasure over harm.

Rev and Tedra storm in, with Rev demanding to know what Juicy told Tedra. Juicy accuses Rev of orchestrating Pap’s death, based on the ghost’s account. Rev denies guilt, mocks the ghost story as evidence, and claims nothing can be done even if it’s true. Rev begins choking on a rib. Juicy tries to help but is pushed away because Rev doesn’t want Juicy, as a gay man, touching him. Rev chokes to death.

The group looks to the audience, and Juicy notes their expectation that all of the other characters will also die, referencing Shakespeare’s Hamlet. They half-heartedly prepare to fight each other but stop short, screaming instead. Tedra asks Juicy to say something over Rev’s body, and Juicy delivers a lackluster eulogy. Addressing the audience, Juicy says that they are going to “carry on” (184) instead of all dying. As the party continues, Rev suddenly gets up and eats as if alive. Larry reappears in full drag, performing a song, and everyone dances.