By MARY FLEMING
mary@du2.byu.edu
BYUSA members provided students a way to relax from the stress of mid-semester in their annual Comedy Night, Friday.
Featuring two comedians, the evening was 90 minutes of laughter. Frank Caliendo, a 25-year-old Milwaukee resident focused much of his comedy on impersonations. Caliendo showed the audience how 'The Wizard of Oz' would be if redone using only Robin Williams for the entire cast.
Caliendo said Williams is his favorite character to impersonate because he can do basically whatever he wants.
Caliendo's impressions were realistic and his biggest asset in the routine. His best were of Williams and Chris Farley. Other favorites included the cast from 'Seinfled.' Caliendo impersonated the entire cast except for Elaine.
The routine ran a little long, over a hour. Caliendo began to repeat some of his comedy but saved himself by succumbing to the audience's demand for a repeat of his Chris Farley impersonation.
Caliendo said he loves to do comedy because it means he doesn't have to work for a living.
Brandon Mull, a junior from Thousand Oaks, Calif., majoring in public relations performed a fifteen minute comedy routine to open the show. He mentioned he had originally planned to make fun of I-15, but decided against it because that would be like hunting a quadriplegic deer. Mull did mention his feelings on the construction closer to home at BYU.
'I'm sure if we were to poll the students about what we needed on campus, it would be a bigger library. Not something ridiculous like underground parking. I mean, the library is so small, it's not even a challenge to find a book.'
Caliendo said he never knows what to expect when local students open for his shows. But he said Mull is very original and talented enough to perform professionally. Mull said he hasn't thought much about doing more stand up in the future, but would be interested in trying it. Mull is currently a member of BYU's comedy club, Divine Comedy.
BYUSA members set up the Wilkinson Student Center Ballroom with tables and served refreshments before the show.