It won the Pulitzer, I'm on Broadway, I scored cheap tickets, I've loved almost every play I've ever seen... Why wasn't I more excited? I heard it was some sassy black BBQ take on Hamlet. I thought "well, at least I'm getting some implicit Shakespeare." Yesterday I attended the Guggenheim and Der Rosenkavalier. Today I justified Fat Ham with a dusty white poet. That is, until the show started.
I've seen white audiences guffaw at sassy black humor many times. There's something I don't like about that dynamic, although I'll also say I usually just don't like audiences at all at these shows I love, especially the comedies. There are always numerous members laughing at dumb things you shouldn't laugh at. Then any moment of poetic non-comedy either gets misplaced chuckles or "mmmm"-*snaps*. I don't like all that feedback. I want to be a subtle and admiring observer of art, and I want to respect (leave alone) the experiences of those around me. I am a pretty passive observer.
I also just don't love humor that seems solely rooted in black caricature. Such humor abounds. Not only is it cliché, it doesn't feel very respectable (or respectful?).
Fat Ham had plenty of the above, with a couple of key differences: 1) it was actually funny; 2) it was heroic.
By the end, it was a party, and a joy.
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