Comedian Shuckey Duckey is the ringmaster of the play circuit
By Linda Sickler
His career as a comedian has benefitted Cecil Armstrong’s career as a member of the play "Mama Sit Yo Ass Down & Listen To God", which is coming to Savannah Nov. 21-25.
“I’ve been with them since 2002,” Armstrong says. “It’s a lot of fun. I get the chance to entertain parents, grandparents and children all under one tent.”
Armstrong performs under the name Shuckey Duckey. He is best known for his catchphrase, “Shuckey duckey, quack quack!”
“Shuckey duckey is an expression that means excited,” Armstrong says. “Instead of cursing, I say, ‘Shuckey duckey!’
“I like the word ‘shucks,’ and I like the word ‘ducky,’” he says. “If you put them both together, it means excitement.”
The term made national news in May 2011 when Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain opened a speech with “Aw, shuckey duckey!” to announce his candidacy. That led to a parody on “Saturday Night Live,” when Bobby Moynihan as “Slappy Pappy” used the catchphrase “Slappy Pappy, wink wink.”
Originally, Armstrong was a bus driver in Dallas.
“A lot of people on the bus said I was funny like Eddie Murphy,” Armstrong says. “I gave it a try and have been doing it ever since.”
The play focuses on issues that are hot button topics within the black community such as, diabetes and single parent households.
“This play has changed lives,” Armstrong says.
“People come out looking for a good time, and they leave with a powerful life altering message about God and his power to heal. It's a great thing that we're doing with this play." The play, which was written by Pastor Roscoe T. Jackson of Light Of Jesus Missionary Baptist Church, has been a hit with audiences since its release in 2002.
“We visit so many cities,” Anderson says.
“Because of Hurricane Sandy, we’ve extended our tour to give people some relief and entertainment,” he says. “We’re going up into December for that, we truly believe that those people need the message of "Mama Sit Yo Ass Down & Listen To God". Our goal with this play from day one was to inspire, educate, and motivate”.
IF YOU GO
What: Mama Sit Yo Ass Down & Listen To God
When: 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22; 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23 and 24; 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Nov. 25
Where: National Guard Armory, 1248 Eisenhower Drive