The Hillel Theater Group's coffeehouse on Tuesday had a broad range of performances, everything from improvisational comedy troupe False Advertising to a kooky one-man show. Proscenium, Brandeis' own musical theater a cappella made their Cholmondeley's semester debut, and together with Manginah, provided a glimpse of the various a cappella styles on campus.Deniz Cordell '07 started off the coffeehouse with his one-man show. The crowd was sparse, but Cordell played on ... and on ... and on. Despite having no idea what he was going to play next, the musical director and orchestrator of the Hillel Theater Groups' production of Guys vs. Dolls filled the time until 10 p.m.

Using only his keyboard and offbeat sense of humor, his task was to keep the slowly accumulating Chum's crowd entertained. While his impromptu attempts at laughs were not very funny, his singing and keyboard playing were excellent.

After playing some Randy Newman to not much fanfare, Cordell played a bizarre rendition of the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds." He played the song masterfully on the keyboard, but "sang" it with a monotone and a falsetto chorus that did not do justice to Cordell or the song. He performed much better while singing and playing other Beatles favorites like "Yellow Submarine," "Hey Jude" and "The Long and Winding Road."

Cordell's best performance came when he sang and played Billy Joel's "Vienna." Unfortunately, very few people in the audience were listening as the growing crowd was getting increasingly restless and his performance fell on mostly deaf ears.

His notable playing and surprisingly graceful singing were made more impressive by the fact that he had no predetermined play list. He played based on the whims of the crowd, and his playing was fantastic. Cordell's own goofiness, however, made it difficult to take him seriously, and it belied the quality of his musical talent.

Next, Proscenium took the stage and immediately set to work. Avital Asuleen '06 mimicked Catherine Zeta-Jones as she sang Chicago's "All That Jazz." Her strong vocals and commanding stage presence had the crowd hungry for more. The next song, called "No One is Alone" from Into the Woods, was dominated by the powerful voice of William Bulmer '04. His captivating baritone filled the small room and ensnared the crowd.

Proscenium's version of The Little Mermaid's "Under the Sea" was a nostalgic delight, as it is very difficult not to enjoy a Disney song. It concluded with "Out Tonight" from Rent, which left something to be desired.

Sadly for Proscenium, their Chum's semester debut came a little too early. The group's talent was apparent, but it undoubtedly would have benefited from a little more practice.

At 10:30, it was Manginah's time to shine. For their performance they added a splash of color, wearing red shirts instead of their typical black. What followed was a wonderful mix of songs, blending their soft, emotional songs with upbeat crowd pleasers.

The group kicked it off pleasantly with "Buena Semana," and was then introduced by musical director Hillel Skolnik '06. Dedicated to future rabbis in attendance that night, Preston Neal '07 sang a hilarious version of the Manginah original, "Sermons," sung to the "Sound of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel. Neal's performance stood out like a hopeful rabbi delivering a sermon to his listless congregants.

After an upbeat version of "David Melech," came a very sad and affecting song called "Darkeinu," about how hard a day can be, particularly in reference to rampant violence in Israel. Meira Soloff '07 sang the song beautifully and dramatically augmented the sad overtones of the song.

In case the mood was too glum after Darkeinu, Manginah transitioned with Adam Sandler's "Chanukah Song," which was received very well by the now-robust crowd. To conclude the set, they sang "Orcha Bamidbar" and "Soulmate."

Manginah showed why it is one of the pre-eminent a cappella groups on campus with its smooth, polished act that left the audience completely satisfied. It combined the serious with the lighthearted, specifically a well-placed Adam Sandler cover. Manginah show that practice makes perfect and demonstrated to everyone how to put on a show.

To conclude the coffeehouse, the veteran improv comedy troupe False Advertising took center stage. After being introduced, they played a game called "Amateur Night," where three False Ad members had to discuss their problems with carburetors. The group then played a game called "Blind Date," where one person was Speedy Gonzales and the other Francis Scott Key; each had to hint at the other's identity.

One of the highlights of False Ad's set was "Debates," where two members had a debate, in this case about Guys vs. Dolls and another member "translated" their debate into amusing sign language.

False Ad is a group comprised of hilarious people that try to create laughs completely on the spot. Its performance at the Guys vs. Dolls coffeehouse fell short, however. While one must admire the skills of False Ad members, their natural humor would be better served in a sketch comedy situation. Obviously, there were still plenty of laughs and they continue to be a crowd favorite, although it would be intriguing to see how funny they could be when they are, indeed, "blatantly scripted."
The combination of entertainment, including a cappella, would-be stand-up comedians and keyboard players and the ever-popular False-Ad, the Guys vs. Dolls coffeehouse was a mixed bag of wonderful Brandeis performers. While some acts did not deliver to their fullest potentials, the audience was still entertained until the show ended at midnight.