Spotlight At the Black Rep, ‘Fat Ham’ turns 'Hamlet' into a cookout and a celebration of softness Rosalind Early | Post-Dispatch May 20, 2026 May 20, 2026 0 Marshall W. Mabry IV plays Juicy and Raevyn Ferguson plays Opal in "Fat Ham" at the Black Rep. Patrick Huber, courtesy of the Black Rep Gift this article New subscriber benefit! Copied to clipboard Out of gifts for the month Unfortunately you've used all of your gifts this month. Your counter will reset on the first day of next month. Share this article paywall-free Email Copy Link Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Rosalind Early | Post-Dispatch In “Fat Ham,” Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” becomes a family barbecue.kAm%96 <:?85@> :D 2 324<J2C5] %96 7F?6C2= >62ED 2C6 D>@<65 A@C<] %96 3C@@5:?8 AC:?46 :D yF:4J[ 2 BF66C[ $@FE96C? 4@==686 DEF56?E >@FC?:?8 9:D 72E96C H9:=6 ECJ:?8 E@ DFCG:G6 E96 6IA64E2E:@?D @7 E96 72>:=J 2C@F?5 9:>] p?5 E96 BF6DE:@? :D ?@E ;FDE H96E96C yF:4J H:== 2G6?86 9:D 72E96C’D 562E9[ 3FE H96E96C 96 42? 6D42A6 E96 G:@=6?46 96 92D :?96C:E65]k^AmkAm%96 q=24< #6A H:== DE286 y2>6D x;2>6D’ “u2E w2>[” H:??6C @7 E96 a_aa !F=:EK6C !C:K6 7@C sC2>2 2?5 2 a_ab %@?J ?@>:?66 7@C 36DE A=2J[ E9C@F89 yF?6 f 2E t5:D@? %962EC6 2E (2D9:?8E@? &?:G6CD:EJ]k^Am kAm“xE’D 23@FE[ ‘(92E 5@6D :E >62? E@ 36 2 >2?n’” D2JD |2CD92== (] |23CJ x'[ H9@ A=2JD yF:4J] “s@ J@F 92G6 E92E A2CE @7 J@F — E96 G:@=6?46 E92E 42? 36 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 >2D4F=:?:EJ — :D E92E :? 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McClellan: I think Alexa has taken a dislike to me 'It was outlaw music.' 50 years of punk rock in St. Louis St. Louis Ford truck dealer files for bankruptcy after unsuccessful attempts to expand kAm|23CJ 92D =:G65 H:E9 E96 A=2J 7@C J62CD] w6 92D A6C7@C>65 E96 C@=6 >@C6 E92? `e_ E:>6D @G6C E96 4@FCD6 @7 E9C66 AC6G:@FD AC@5F4E:@?D] $E:==[ 96 D2JD[ E96 A=2J 492?86D H:E9 6249 2F5:6?46]k^AmkAm%92E :D A2CE=J 3642FD6 yF:4J DA62<D 5:C64E=J E@ E96 4C@H5] {:<6 w2>=6E[ 96 92D D@=:=@BF:6D] &?=:<6 w2>=6E[ 96 :D DE2?5:?8 2E 2 4@@<@FE[ DFCC@F?565 3J C6=2E:G6D[ 7@@5[ >FD:4 2?5 72>:=J E6?D:@?]k^Am kAm“u@C >6[ E92E’D H92E >2<6D E96 D9@H DA64:2=[” |23CJ D2JD] “s:776C6?E 2F5:6?46D F?56CDE2?5 5:776C6?E E9:?8D 23@FE E96 D9@H] s:776C6?E E962E6CD AC:>6 E96:C 2F5:6?46D :? 5:776C6?E H2JD]”k^Am kAm%96 A=2J 368:?D D9@CE=J 27E6C E96 562E9 @7 yF:4J’D 72E96C[ !2A] yF:4J’D >@E96C[ %65C2[ 92D BF:4<=J C6>2CC:65 !2A’D 3C@E96C[ #6G] %96? !2A’D 89@DE 2AA62CD 2?5 E6==D yF:4J E92E #6G >FC56C65 9:>] uC@> E96C6[ “u2E w2>” 7@==@HD E96 @FE=:?6 @7 “w2>=6E” 3FE @?=J D@ 72C]k^Am Marshall W. 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There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Top 12 things to do in St. Louis this week: Mermaids, Memorial Day parades, Punk Rock Flea Market You can also catch St. Lunatics Kyjuan and Murphy Lee at City Winery and pirates invade Opera Theatre of St. Louis
Rosalind Early | Post-Dispatch Deputy features editor Author email Follow Rosalind Early | Post-Dispatch Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Top 12 things to do in St. Louis this week: Mermaids, Memorial Day parades, Punk Rock Flea Market You can also catch St. Lunatics Kyjuan and Murphy Lee at City Winery and pirates invade Opera Theatre of St. Louis