For a couple of days, it almost seemed as if winter had ended. The sun shone, the air was warm and the snow finally started to melt. And then, yet again, the temperature dropped. But the Union Senate managed to cheer up chilly students by thoughtfully organizing "A Night of Acts and Snacks," featuring some of Brandeis' talented performers.
The Ballroom Dance Team opened the show with a display of steamy, sexy routines. Each dancer did a commendable job of conveying the mood of each dance, from a sultry rumba number, to an energetic, 1950s-style jive.

Following the dancers was Dan Hirshon '04 with his standup comedy act. Hirshon regularly performs in Boston and New York, and competed in Las Vegas last year. His signature dry, deadpan humor kept the audience on the edge, as viewers wondered whether he was laughing directly at them, or simply with them. Hirshon interacts well with the audience, and his blunt, self-deprecating jokes concerning his hair were well received. He included several jokes focusing on the fears and problems of college students, commenting on subjects ranging from problems with parents to finding a job after graduation. Overall, the routine was engaging, varied and perceptive.

The next performer was Melissa Hunt, an off-campus comedienne. Her jokes centered on taboo subjects, including women's weight obsessions, anal sex and her mixed heritage. She had an excellent stage presence, and a brash, sarcastic attitude. The audience responded with roars of laughter to her take on these touchy subjects. Hunt challenged the audience, especially when she focused on female body image issues, and she creatively made light of the difficult topic.

To Be Announced (TBA), the biggest act of the evening, came after Hunt, with a short introduction from Hirshon. Brandeis' newest improv group has grown in size and confidence since their debut performance in Chum's last year. TBA was well received by the audience, and presented an entertaining, if somewhat lengthy routine. Their unique "Police Log" skit, based on true stories from the Justice's Police Log, opened the show, much to the audience's approval. TBA featured eight games. the most memorable being a game entitled "Fairy Tale," which involved audience volunteers and the final game, which employed blindfolded actors and mousetraps. The group works well together, supporting each other in each skit. They have great chemistry, and this comes out through their enthusiasm during each performance. A game involving Rachel Bressler '04 and Darnisa Amante '06 was a great example of TBA's quick thinking and imaginative character portrayal. Bressler acted as a small child, learning to swim, and Amante was her sadistic, overbearing coach.

TBA obviously practices often and thoroughly. This became apparent in the "Fairy Tale" game, where the improvised story of a "vegan dragon" illustrated the actors' skill by jumping right into the action.
A tense, spontaneous game involving mousetraps ended TBA's program. The improvised story of the game was slightly unclear, but the audience was kept in suspense, as they eagerly watched to see whether or not the actors would be caught. TBA has matured as a group, and their dynamic is earnest, enthusiastic and fun.

The evening ended with a performance by Spur of the Moment, one of Brandeis' many a cappella groups. The group was missing two singers, but Spur managed to carry on. The first song was slightly weak, but as the group gained confidence, the singers' strength and ability shone through. Spur is a great ensemble and their unity was communicated through the group's enjoyment of their performance. The second song, "What a Feeling," was a true pleasure to listen to and was the perfect display of Spur's talent.

This evening of performance was rounded off with the "snacks"-cookies courtesy of the Union Senate. A well-organized program such as this helped students forget the arctic temperatures, and it provided a perfect Wednesday night study break.