In their recent “Time Mee-Owchine” show, America’s longest-running college improv comedy show, The Mee-Ow Show, added a comedic twist to the science fiction and historical worlds.
“Time Mee-Owchine,” which ran Friday and Saturday night at Shanley Pavilion, featured songs from different decades, showcased thematically diverse sketches and incorporated improvised moments drawing on audience input.
Co-producer and Medill senior Lara Weissmann said she liked how the theme focused on the “history of the world.”
“That’s my favorite (time period) — just going through all the different eras of the world, all the way back to, like the Neolithic era,” Weissmann said.
The first sketch centered on time machines: Communication junior Saul Bazer, portraying the typical gamer, tells his grandpa that he built a time machine using ChatGPT.
Bazer and Weinberg senior Thomas Alemu, the main characters in the sketch, repeatedly traveled back farther and farther in time to see how people in different decades lived. The sketch played on Bazer’s lack of awareness of the past; he would misinterpret their words for slang, such as being sick.
The show continued with small music breaks from the band, sketches and improv moments; these extra threads tied the show together. One gag featured Communication junior Natalie May, who ironically finds a hamburger inside random objects as an entertaining running joke.
“We just want people to laugh,” May said. “Honestly, I don’t think it’s more serious than that. If we can get everyone in a room laughing together on a Friday night — that’s kind of the goal.”
Mee-Ow exceeded their goal. The crowd stayed engaged throughout the show, matching the energy of each sketch.
Audience member and Communication junior Patrick Howard especially liked the sketch in which the Grinch, played by Alemu, performed slam poetry that focused on the struggles of green people.
“I just thought that it was hilarious, both the sketch but also the audience’s reaction. Every time (Alemu) would say a joke, the entire audience would ‘hmmm,’” Howard said.
The cast was not the only one that drew the crowd’s support. The band also received cheers from the audience.
“I really hope people take away how amazing and talented our instrumentalists are this year,” said Communication senior Yara Nasr, a vocalist for the band.
The show was full of memorable moments for the band. At one point, vocalist and Communication senior Nayan Khambhla sang “Despicable Me” by Pharrell Williams dressed as a minion.
The club as a whole recently underwent a major rebrand, Weissmann said. After the group spent over 50 years as part of a larger theater board, this is the first year that they have performed as an independent organization.
The club markets itself as a “cool, hot, funny group,” she said. This show was the perfect reflection of the Show’s goal, creating sketches that were unique, relatable and outstanding.
Despite the rebranding, Mee-Ow remains a unique group on campus.
“I have seen the Mee-Ow show every year since I have gotten to Northwestern, and I just expect it to be good because it has been good for as long as I have been here,” Howard said.
Correction: A previous version of this story said Mee-Ow was a part of Arts Alliance for 75 years. Mee-Ow was a part of Arts Alliance for 50 years. The Daily regrets this error.
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