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Ham: A Musical Memoir

Reviewed by Pauline Adamek

The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre

Through February 7

Singer, songwriter and Tony-nominated Broadway star, Sam Harris has enjoyed a vivid and successful career. His autobiography, “HAM: Slices of a Life” (published in January 2014 by Simon & Schuster), is a collection of personal essays that describe his conflicted early days growing up gay, musically gifted and ferociously ambitious in Bible Belt Oklahoma. The book goes on to chart his showbiz career, and concludes with his family life as a husband and father.

His self-penned musical play distills the important moments from his life (and book), resulting in a nicely paced solo show. Musical director Todd Schroeder accompanies Harris on piano throughout, occasionally providing banter and warm harmonies. But of course it’s Harris who’s the star of the evening. A consummate “triple-threat” performer, he brings an effusive spirit and boundless energy to his performance, commanding the raised stage yet projecting a disarming affability that, on opening weekend, enraptured his audience. His voice is lovely in tone and powerful in range, blending pop sensibilities with the soul of gospel.

Sam Harris rocketed to national fame during the early 80s with his appearances on Star Search (then the only talent show on television). A popular contestant, Harris drew a weekly audience of more than 25 million viewers and went on to win top place on the show during its premier season. Motown Records then signed Harris and his professional career took off.

Much of this one-act show, however, is dedicated to the events leading up to that watershed experience, mostly focusing on his difficult childhood growing up in Sand Springs, Oklahoma and wrestling with his identity. His hometown is hilariously described as having “all the pollution of the big city without the perqs.”

Co-direction from Billy Porter and Ken Sawyer employs the simple staging of a bench and a door, with occasional projection on the upstage screen. Adam Earl’s lighting design is especially effective in creating variety and intimacy.

Ham: A Musical Memoir moves with ease from a succession of amusing anecdotes and nicely-delivered jokes to poignant scenes that describe the anguish of a closeted life. His script feels honest and heartfelt, and the songs, some of them original, work well with the material. The show’s feel-good ending is sentimental, but not overly so.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre, 1125 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood, 90038. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.; through Feb. 7. (323) 860-7300 or www.lalgbtcenter.org/theatre; Running time: 1 hour and 40 minutes with no intermission.