Juicy

Juicy, the protagonist, is a sensitive, introspective young Black man grappling with grief, family expectations, and questions of identity. Loosely based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Juicy is the son of Pap, a violent patriarch whose death at the hands of his brother Rev sets the plot in motion. Pap’s ghost appears to Juicy early in the play, demanding that he avenge his murder by killing Rev, who has married Juicy’s mother, Tedra. However, Juicy, who is queer and "soft" by his own admission, struggles to align himself with the traditional revenge hero archetype. Instead of perpetuating the cycle of violence that has defined his family, Juicy ultimately rejects the path laid out for him, choosing self-expression and community over vengeance and tragedy.

Juicy’s defining characteristic is his introspection, which is amplified through his frequent direct addresses to the audience. These asides reveal his inner turmoil...