This spring, Ida B. Wells High School produced its annual production of “Shut Up, You Can’t Tell Me What To Do, You’re Not My Real Dad!” “Shut Up!” is told through a collection of two seven-minute skits with a cast of seven actors and one Master of Ceremonies (MC) who directs the actors and audience. The special thing about this setup is that the audience gets to decide what order they want to see the skits in. The MC will ask the crowd for suggestions, and then everyone will shout out their choices. Afterwards, the MC will pick one that they heard, keeping the show unpredictable and exciting.
The show’s humor is a bit edgy and meant for older audiences, like high schoolers. Some jokes are a bit dark, but they’re always clever and funny. For example, in a skit titled “Drac-Tuah,” a sad Count Dracula explains his many failed relationships to a talk show host on a “Love Island” type of show. The actors never explicitly said what they were referring to, but based on some of the jokes and the skit’s title, it was obvious that they were talking about something not so PG.
The show lasts about 90 minutes, but because it’s so funny and entertaining, it feels like it’s over in no time. All of the actors do a great job of bringing their characters to life, which is especially impressive because this year features a majority-freshman cast. You can tell they’re all having fun and being themselves, making each skit feel like a group of friends playing around.
Some of the best or most notable skits performed were “The Freud Problem” and “I Have an Idea.” The Freud Problem is about Sigmund Freud, a behavioral psychologist, and one of his patients. It features Freud indirectly hitting on his patient’s mom, insisting that it would benefit his patient if he and their mom were to meet or “get each other’s snaps.” “I Have an Idea” is a shorter scene, set in the old ages and starring two executioners. One of them thinks of the concept of time and they both argue about how stupid the measurements of time are.
The show’s director, Jamie Miller, has been with the IBW drama department for around 20 years. His energy and passion for the arts and “Shut Up!” have kept the department going for 10 years. He’s created something very special, and the cast’s performances bring him and the audience together.
While the show itself was very fun, the best part was that there was no set price for the entry fee, meaning you could pay anything that you wanted to; all the money went to charity. This price strategy has been used at IBW for years, and is a great way to support a good cause while enjoying a night full of laughs. “Shut Up, You’re Not My Real Dad, You Can’t Tell Me What to Do!” is a hilarious show that’s full of chemistry, surprising moments, and clever jokes.
