Laughter reverberated through the rafters of Binghamton University’s Anderson Center for the Performing Arts when nearly 700 people packed into the Osterhout Concert Theater. On Sunday, Binghamton University’s improv group, the Pappy Parker Players, and Derrick Comedy, brought the funny to the BU venue for a free show.
Lily Karam, a freshman chemistry major, said she came to the show to see Derrick Comedy.
“We’re familiar with Derrick Comedy from watching their videos on their YouTube channel,” Karam said.
All members from Derrick Comedy attended New York University where they studied various aspects of film and TV, except for their one female member, Meggie McFadden, who attended Fordham Lincoln Center and got a bachelor’s in English and creative writing. The group also studied improv sketch at Upright Citizen Brigade Theatre in NYC.
Their recent movie, “Mystery Team,” premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival where it received positive reviews.
BU’ s Pappy Parker Players, the only improv group on campus, performed to a crowd nearly double its average size because of Derrick Comedy’s involvement in the show.
Both performances included suggestions from the audience, which included anime, rape and Pokemon.
Ben Swerdlow said he enjoyed both performances.
“They were both awesome, and I think it takes so much talent to be able to come up with random, funny lines like that,” Swerdlow, a freshman psychology major said.
Steve Garofalo, a sophomore mechanical engineer, said he liked the first part of the show better than the second.
“I’ve seen the Pappy Parkers and Derrick Comedy online before and wanted to see them live in person,” he said.
According to Aaron Cohn, the varieties chair of the Student Association Programming Board, the show was free because of this year’s other successful events, including Ron Jeremy and “Mythbusters” speeches.
Gregory Greene, a freshman political science major, said he came to the show with only one intention.
“I’m here to prove to my friends that Donald Glover from Derrick Comedy does not — and I mean does not — look like me,” he said.