Cheap Sox, Bubs entertain for charity

The Alpha Omicron Pi sorority served up a night full of a capella with a little improv on the side at the 2003 Benefit A Capella Concert last Saturday at Goddard Chapel. The concert was a part of AOPi's ongoing campaign to raise money for arthritis research. It featured three collegiate a capella groups, including Tufts' own Beezlebubs, and the ever-entertaining improvisational comedy group, Cheap Sox. This marked the sorority's second annual charitable benefit, which raised more than $1,200 last semester for juvenile arthritis research.

The event had a large draw as nearly every pew in Goddard Chapel filled quickly before the concert began. The entire chapel brimmed with the chatter and anticipatory laughter of the gathered audience. Alpha Omicron Pi President Lindsey Bozak welcomed the people in attendance, gave a brief overview of her group's cause, and introduced the first performers, Cheap Sox.

The audience's favor was evident from the very beginning as the Tufts improv group was greeted with a powerful round of applause. Cheap Sox quickly launched into the first of three short skits, titled "Styles," where two of its members acted out a scene while shifting into different genres proposed by the audience. This was followed by "Evil Twin," where the improv actors teamed up to play "good" or "evil" twins and had to adjust accordingly after their malicious double took their place in a scene. The third skit, "Party Quirks," a game that finished to rousing applause as the "host" of the party managed to correctly identify his quirky guests based on their actions (in order: an epileptic ballerina, a Muppet, and an entire a capella group).

Next to perform were the Downbeats, a co-ed a capella group from Northeastern University. With a repertoire of songs including "Perfect Day" and "You're Everywhere With Me," the 'Beats displayed an infectious energy that had the entire chapel rocking along. Their selection of pieces seemed to stay mainly in the range of popular music, but this ensemble had more than the necessary individual strength to pull it off, featuring several powerful soloists throughout their songs that carried through the animation of the entire group.

The Clark Counterpoints followed them to the stage, opening with a strong rendition of "Best Day of My Life." This all-female group showcased an extraordinary range of featured pieces, singing everything from pop to an all-vocal rap number to a Hindi Love Song that was received incredible audience approval. With their mesmerizing tonality and harmonic blends that managed to show off the strengths of singers throughout their ensemble, the Counterpoints presented a nice change from normal a capella faire with their varied selection of music and closed with an original gospel-style piece, titled "When Freedom Comes."

The closing group for the evening was the Tufts Beezlebubs, who were greeted with a strong crowd reaction from the moment they took the stage. From the opening note of their first number, "Love the One You're With," the presence of this all-male a capella group lit up the chapel. Though their vocal dexterity is more than evident, the Bubs also clearly enjoyed singing to their audience, hamming it up throughout songs "Do I Love You?" and "Ordinary Man." At times, the entire ensemble often seems so powerful that dramatic pauses come to life, making silences in the middle of a song seem nearly as vivid as their music. The furor rose to a fever pitch, as the audience demanded an encore, which the group granted in the form of Simon and Garfunkle's "Cecilia" before making their final exit.

"I loved it," said Becky Leifer, a visiting student from Northeastern who came over to support the Downbeats. "The Tufts group especially had such energy and power, and they really seemed to get the crowd involved."

"It was a good mix of styles," agreed Jess Laundy, another Northeastern University student. "And a good representation of serious and fun. I especially enjoyed the song in Hindi [sung by the Counterpoints], because it seemed really unique."