The Suss - Issue 8 - II

VOL: 2 ISSUE: 8 09.03.16

THE COLLEGE VIEW

THE SUSS

DICAPRIO Leo wins big 22 years on

Feature

BY CONOR MARTIN

Oscars: Spotlight shines on Leo’s glory T

he race for best picture at the 88th Academy Awards was said to be the closest for years and so it proved. Alejandro González Iñárritu won best director for frontier revenge drama The Revenant, and best film went the way of Tom McCarthy’s Spotlight.

There were gasps in the press room when Morgan Freeman announced that McCarthy’s searing drama on the Boston Globe’s investigations into clerical sexual abuse had crept past The Revenant.

Spotlight had won just one award already - the first time since 1952 that a best picture winner took just two Oscars.

“This film gave a voice to survivors, and this Oscar amplifies that voice, which we hope will become will become a choir that will resonate all the way to the Vatican,” said Michael Sugar, producer of Spotlight.

Broadcaster Piers Morgan pointed out the victory for journalism, saying: “Journalism, so often maligned, finally gets the credit it deserves.

Congrats to those heroic Boston Globe staff.”

Leonardo DiCaprio,

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nominated for acting prizes four times previously, finally won the Oscar for his leading performance in The Revenant.

DiCaprio received a standing ovation as he picked up his award. He thanked his director and co-star Tom Hardy for his “fierce talent on screen” and “friendship off screen.” He then took the opportunity to make a call for action on global warming.

“Our production needed to move to the southern tip of this planet just to be able to find snow,” he said.

“Climate change is real.

It is happening right now.

It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together.”

Mad Max: Fury Road took home six awards over the course of the night, far surpassing any other film.

George Miller’s post-apocalyptic action film nearly swept all the below-the-line categories, including Best Costume Design, Production Design, Makeup & Hairstyling, Film Editing, and both Sound Mixing and Editing.

Chris Rock hosted the prestigious event, challenging the lack of diversity among this year’s nominees

“Chris Rock hosted the prestigious event, challenging the lack of diversity among this year’s nominees throughout the three-anda-half-hour broadcast.” throughout the three-anda-half-hour broadcast.

The comedian dedicated the majority of his 10-minute monologue to to the subject, calling the gala the ‘White People’s Choice Awards’ and speculating that for much of the Academy Awards’ 88-year history African-Americans didn’t protest because “we

had real things to protest at the time.”

Other winners included Brie Larson, an unbackable odds-on favourite, took best actress for Lenny Abrahamson’s Room. None of the other Irish nominees for Room or John Crowley’s Brooklyn were favourites, but Dubliner Ben Cleary won best live action short for the excellent Stutterer.

Mark Rylance won the best supporting actor Oscar for his performance in Bridge Of Spies. In Steven Spielberg’s cold war thriller, he played a Soviet spy involved in a dangerous exchange.

Alicia Vikander won the best supporting actress Oscar for her role in Tom Hooper’s transgender drama The Danish Girl. The 27-year-old star beat favourite Kate Winslet for the award.

The film focuses on the first ever recipient of gender reassignment surgery and the effect this has on his marriage.

Inside Out took home the Oscar for Best Animated

Feature Film. This was Pixar’s eighth animated Oscar in recent years.The movie is set in the mind of an 11-year-old girl where five emotions — Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black) and Disgust (Mindy Kaling) lead her through life.

Ex Machina, an independent film with a small cast won the Oscar for best visual effects, beating big budget blockbuster Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Sam Smith won the Oscar for Best Original Song for his Bond theme “Writing’s On The Wall”, beating Lady Gaga’s song “Til It Happens to You”, from The Hunting Ground, a documentary on campus rape.

Smith said: “I read an article a few months ago

by Sir Ian McKellan and he said that no openly gay man had ever won an Oscar.”

“If this is the case, even if it isn’t the case I want to dedicate this to the LGBT community all around the world.”

Photo Credit: Front page: The Hollywood Reporter; Page 2: www.mashable.com, www.pinterest.com; Page 3: www.wmc.org.uk; Page 4:thecrimson.coms; Page 5: rollingstone. com, collider.com; Page 6: visitdenmark.com celebbuzz.com; Page 7: Madeline Noble, whitehouse.ie, Amy Lawlor; Page 8: Laura Horan, DCU RAG Facebook.

REVIEW: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Bord Gais

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lassic musicals like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will always have special meaning to people of all ages.

They always seem to take me back to my childhood Christmas holidays, and the small pile of chocolate I usually managed to enjoy along with them.

The Bord Gáis Energy Theatre was the venue packed to the rafters with families and other folks of all ages.

This is no school hall panto production. All the lights, sets, music and grandeur flew straight in from the West End. The moment you step into the main hall in the theatre you see the windmill set - representing the iconic home of the Potts family from MGM’s 1968 movie - covering the entire stage.

This windmill’s got a few tricks in its creaky rafters.

The set can fold back and open up in several cleverly designed ways to portray a scrapyard, the Potts’ kitch-

en, Lord Scrumptious’ sweet factory and Baron Bomburst’s castle. The props of the ruined Chitty and her immaculately restored version are on wheels and hydraulic jacks respectively to make them part of the show rather than just props. More on the hydraulics later.

Comedian Jason Manford steps out for the role of Carraticus Potts, a role it seems Ian Fleming himself wrote for him.

In this adaption slight changes are made from the original. The spoiled Baron Bomburst sends two clumsily camp and loveable spies, Boris and Gordon, to steal the “magic car” and bring it back to the fictitious nation of Vulgaria.

Any men who can disguise themselves punderfully as petrol pumps and bushes while poking fun at trying to be “proper English gentlymen” always deserve the biggest applause and they keep the audience laughing from the begin-

ning.

The late Mrs. Potts also makes an appearance for Hushabye Mountain, an immensely powerful and moving duet with Manford.

While it is usually best to not stray from the source material these changes only serve to add to the overall performance.

Manford dazzles as the show’s lead, yet his two children are somewhat lacklustre. The young boy and girl playing the Potts children, while obviously enjoying their roles immensely, still can’t help but almost giggle at their own jokes and shout rather than sing some of their parts. That being said they’re obviously having the time of their times performing in such a stellar cast.

Former Eastender and Spandau Ballet bassist Martin Kemp creeps up in the second act as the sinister Childsnatcher. A perfectly eerie performance brings some needed balance to a

show chockablock with slapstick and innuendos. In stark contrast is the enchanting Michelle Collins as the aptly named Truly Scrumptious.

She carries the role with little effort in a sublimely natural performance.

Along with the ghastly Childsnatcher and the delightful Truly, there’s plenty of comic relief. Boris and Gordon, played by Sam Harrison and Scott Paige make a brilliant comic double act with more than an just air of Laurel and Hardy about them.

Funniest of all on the night was the ever witty comic Phil Jupitus as both the old fuddy-duddy Lord Scrumptious and greedy man-child Baron Bomburst.

An organic brand of comedic acting shines through in Jupitus’ performance with most of his lines delivered in a mock Germanic accent and the punches in his natural cockney tone.

Now, those hydraulics.

They lift the end of the first

BY GLEN MURPHY

act up to its highest point, quite literally. The beautifully rebuilt Chitty flies out across the ocean to rescue the senile Potts Senior, after Boris and Gordon mistake him for his inventor son and abduct him.

A dense fog portraying clouds covers the stage as the projectionist paints a black veil with a million specks of white to bring in the night. The car ascends on the jacks lifting Mr. Potts, Truly and the children high above the stage making the audience crane their necks to get the best view. A spectacular sight with the classic Chitty soundtrack to close before the break.

Packed full of charm, laughs and keeping the theme of family at its core this is a show that will never be forgotten. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a timeless classic and this latest interpretation makes its own mark while still staying beautifully true to the original.

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Te l ev i s i o n S p e c i a l : L o

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ou know it’s good when you watch all ten episodes in one sitting, without food or human contact. Netflix original series Love follows the unfortunate love lives of Gus and Mickey in what can only be described as an unromantic comedy.

He’s a dorky, Prius driving, on-set tutor in Hollywood. She’s a cool, chainsmoking, cat loving, radio producer and addict.

They tumble into each other’s lives accidentally, and hesitantly weave in and out for the 10 following episodes.

Critics have questioned whether Gus and Mickey’s relationship merits its own show, claiming it’s slow and aimless. It definitely has its ups and downs but at a mere 330 minutes long, why wouldn’t you

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give Love a go?

Directed by romantic comedy specialist Judd Apatow of Knocked Up and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, the show came from an idea he had years ago where “you would follow a couple very slowly and see every single beat of their relationship”.

Gillian Jacobs beautifully portrays Mickey in a way that you cannot take your eyes off her. She manages to play a self-destructive, drug, sex and love addict to perfection, both accurately and comedically. We see her battle through waves of sobriety. When Mickey turns to the drink, I’d nearly join her.

She can be difficult and frustrating to watch with her unstable, erratic and selfish personality, but it is her hunger for validation that melts our hearts.

She seeks validation through her addictions and ultimately just wants to love and be loved.

Paul Rust, co-creator of the show, plays the sensible, practical, forgettable Gus. He is a whisper of a man and the opposite of Mickey, until his long term girlfriend breaks his heart and he falls glasses first, into Mickey’s life. From bizarre threesomes to smoking weed for breakfast, Gus transforms into a cool, twotiming player who thinks he’s made it.

People are calling Love the tale of a “Cool Girl” and a “Nice Guy,” but it doesn’t take long before Mickey loses her cool and finds herself clutching to memories she once had when Gus won’t even return her calls.

Weighed down by her insecurities and feelings of

abandonment, she desperately reaches out to Gus, and anyone else within her grasp. From AA meetings to using her roommate as a crutch, Mickey doesn’t see the damage she causes around her. All she sees is Gus. Meanwhile Gus is off with some Hollywood cliché actress trying to find himself and navigate his complicated feelings for the ever-complicated Mickey.

The highlight of the show for me was the unexpected appearance of comedian Andy Dick, playing his wonderful, witty self.

Mickey and Andy embark on a drug induced adventure to The Valley together.

It is nothing short of bellyaching, laugh out loud, hilarious.

My only complaint is how slow the show is to

get going. I wanted something out of the first four episodes that wasn’t quite there, but what follows definitely makes up for it.

By the finale Mickey and Gus reconnect outside the local shop where they first met. I won’t spoil the ending for you but it might surprise you what happens next.

Ten episodes in six hours is a pleasant binge.

You’ve eaten your ice cream, gotten a good healthy laugh and can probably even make it to the gym before it closes.

Netflix seem to be coming out with more and more original series these days that appear to have been created with bingewatching in mind, and I’m not complaining. So if you do nothing else today, or even this week, watch Love.

ove & V i ny l

BY ALANA LAVERTY & SHANE O’MAHONY

V

inyl, HBO’s new Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger creation, is already establishing itself as must see TV. Set in the drug-filled music scene of 1970’s New York, the show focuses on Richie Finestra, played by Bobby Cannavale, and his record company American Century. Over the course of a stunning 2 hour pilot, we see Richie attempting to sell the fading company to a German group, only for the deal to take some bizarre turns.

The show’s all-star creative line-up, also featuring Boardwalk Empire and Wolf of Wall Street writer Terence Winter, have created a show that perfectly fits with Richie’s description of rock and roll; ‘It’s fast, it’s dirty, it smashes you over the head’.

Scorsese and Winter once again deliver us an exhibition of excess; entire buildings crumble to the ground, men are beaten to death with awards, characters go on drink and cocaine binges for days on end. It’s textbook Scorsese, and is every bit as visceral as his previous work.

Jagger has also played a key part in moulding Vinyl, using past experiences to put together the New York we see. The show feels like an authentic 70’s recreation, far more than just brown suits and large moustaches, and the opening scene

where crowds rush over Richie’s parked car to get into a concert gives immediate life to the setting.

Richie himself is a puzzling character to evaluate.

From the outset we can feel the strain of his battle to stay off cocaine and preserve his marriage and frankly it’s something we’ve seen before.

Richie is far more interesting when acting along to martial arts movies in a cinema coked off his head than in most scenes with his wife Devon, played by Olivia

Wilde. There is a notable exception at the end of the pilot, and to his credit Cannavale portrays both sides of Richie quite well, it’s simply that one is far more interesting than the other.

Richie and Devon is one of three major sub-plots.

Another focuses on fictional punk band “The Nasty Bits”, whose frontman Kip Stevens is played by Jagger’s son James. The band’s tape gets picked up by American Century secretary Julie, played by Juno Temple, who tries to prove to Richie that they, and she herself, have a lot more talent than people think.

Julie’s struggle to progress in the male dominated industry, at one point she instinctively offers Richie sexual favours for the chance to view the Nasty

Bits for him, is one of the show’s highlights. She is consistently run down by other American Century employees and her hopes of breaking from the rut lie squarely with the Nasty Bits.

The problem with the Nasty Bits is that they’re just not that good. While their performance to Richie offered a nice underdog finale to episode 3, the characters often talk about a’ rawness’ to their sound that just doesn’t translate to the screen. At some point being told how good the Nasty Bits are is going to become weary.

The most interesting tale of all is Lester Grimes; a blues singer who Richie got a deal for when he was just a barman, only for Grimes to be told he had to do pop hits. Grimes’ ultimately

tragic demise and Richie’s attempted reconciliation is a slow burner, but one that should be followed very closely.

As one might expect, Vinyl is an absolute treat for fans of Rock and Roll - the show is littered with brilliantly crafted Easter Eggs. Richie bemoans the progressive doodling of Emerson Lake and Palmer, there’s tales of Keith Moon throwing television sets from windows, and there’s cameos from Robert Plant, Andy Warhol and Alice Cooper.

The problem with music is subjectivity. If you’re not a fan of rock music then Led Zeppelin references won’t do anything for you. But there is still enough to Vinyl to make it a fantastic watch, regardless of musical taste.

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Travel Odense - the hidden gem of Denmark

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hen most people think of Denmark, they think of Copenhagen. However, not many people think of Odense (pronounced ‘Oonsa’), the third largest city in the country and birthplace of Hans Christian Anderson.

Odense is a city of culture, filled with art galleries, museums, churches and Cathedrals, and coffee shops and bistros on every corner.

With 50 per cent of locals choosing to travel by bike instead of car, this is the perfect city to discover on foot or by cycling.

Should you choose to cycle, you can easily rent a bike through the Tourist

BY KEAVA O’LOAN Board or from one of the many rental flyers posted on lampposts and in shop windows. Cycling home from a nightclub at 5:30am as the sun begins to rise is definitely something everyone should experience at least once.

When it comes to food, Odense has a huge variety of restaurants. However, if it’s traditional Danish cuisine you’re looking for, Cro’n in Dronningensgade is the place to visit.

Prices are mid-range, with main courses such as Frikadeller (pork or veal meatballs) or Stegte sild (fried herring, often pickled or smoked) accompanied

by Danish favourites of cabbage and potatoes costing between 130 and 200 Krone.

My favourite was Brændende kærlighed, which literally translates as ‘burning love’. This is creamy mashed potato formed with a well in the middle to house fried bacon and

“You can’t go to Odense and not visit Hans Christian Anderson’s home.” onion.

You can’t go to Odense and not visit Hans Christian Anderson’s home, located in the old precinct. Marked by beautiful winding cobbled

streets lined with blooming flowers and quaint, colourful homes, this area is known for its quirky character.

Nearby is the museum built in Anderson’s honour.

Even if you don’t go inside, the beautifully manicured grounds, complete with a lake, warrant a visit. Further odes to the author are dotted around the city in the form of sculptures depicting his legendary fairy tales.

Art buffs should factor in a visit to Funen’s Art Museum, and Brandt’s Museum

Paris remains the true home for fashion

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omehow during the youth culture that developed in the UK and America in the 1970s, French designers became less radical. They continued to create clothes but strayed away from short skirts and other trends in

hing ly d am

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London and New York. Paris became associated with timeless, elegant and traditional style and it remains that way today.

They have been falling closely behind London and New York in the fast-pace world that is fashion but

have recently reminded us that they are the original and powerful home of style.

The governing body of Paris fashion week are the first committee to take an official stance on the controversial ‘see now, buy now’ debate.

Essentially, designers such as Burberry, Tom Ford and Tommy Hilfiger have decided that from September, they will start showing their current collections at shows.

Paris has decided to stick with the tradition of displaying collections six months in advance.

This fashion week, the collections modelled are the trends for Autumn/

of Photographic Art, where you can see a phenomenal blend of contemporary and classic art. A student ticket costs 105 Danish Krone (around €14) and covers the entrance to both museums.

Located on the island of Funen, you can reach Odense easily by a train that goes directly from Copenhagen airport. A return fare costs around €75, but it’s worth it to visit one of Denmark’s hidden treasures.

BY MICHELLE MARTIN

Winter 2016. Their reasons for this include giving designers the time to create quality designs as well as upholding tradition.

Only a few months ago, France also became the first country to introduce legislation regarding the weight of models. Now models in France must get a medical cert which says they are healthy enough to work. The laws have inspired other countries and activists to call for further legislation and in recent weeks, a Californian Senator proposed the state’s first bill on the issue.

The firm stance by Paris regarding fashion is reminiscent of their glory days of the mid-twentieth

century. The city was home to designers like Coco Chanel and Christian Dior. It was the background for the reinvention of dull wartime clothes and the revolution of women’s clothing.

Let’s not forget Chanel was the woman who introduced suits, trouser pants and loose-fitted tops for women, a rebellious move against the cinched-in waists and corsets that were popular at the time. Their name as the fashion capital of the world was established and it is now impossible to think of Paris without thinking of fashion, and vice versa.

Feature

Mind your selfie with new gadgets First came the frontfacing camera, then the selfie-stick, and now the latest narcissistic gadget has arrived.

The latest tool designed to create the ‘perfect selfie’ comes in the form of a phone case. The Lumee phone case is a front-lit smartphone case that aims to create the perfect selfie-taking light.

The phone case attaches to the front of the smartphone and features front-facing LED lights on the face of the case.

In January of this year, Kim Kardashian wrote a blog post on her own website raving about the product.

‘The secret to a good selfie is definitely lighting. I love my Lumee case.

It has front facing lights that light you up anywhere you are, especially in dark places.”

Kardashian revealed that after taking a selfie with Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State said that the phone case was the best one she had ever seen.

BY SHIRLEY DONLON

BY AOIBHEANN DIVER

It’s halfway through the second semester and your funds may be falling. This can make even the simplest things more difficult, such as eating.

The solution is not to spend your money on takeaways and NuBar goujons. For cheaper and (slightly) healthier meals, just fill up your kitchen cupboards with these essential student carbohydrates.

Selfie-taking has become such a global phenomenon that they have recently declared that parts of India are now ‘no-selfie zones’.

Mumbai has declared 16 ‘no-selfie zones’ following the death of 19 people linked to the photo phenomenon.

There has been 49 recorded selfie-linked deaths since 2014, according to San Francisco-based data service provider Priceonomics.

The problem arises when people stand, phone in hand, taking selfies and become unaware of their surroundings.

According to the Irish Times, Keerti Sachdeva, a psychologist from Mumbai, said that she does not expect the constant pursuit of selfies to end any time soon “You know people have this sort of feeling in adolescent age, especially that they need to get this acceptance from everyone, that I am a smart person, I am a good-looking person,” Sachdeva said.

The Lumee is the latest tool created for the selfielover; whether it will really enhance our chances at getting the ‘perfect selfie’ is the next question to be answered.

• Pasta: So much more than a stereotype. Pasta can be eaten in so many ways: carbonara, bolognese, pasta bake or simply sprinkled with cheese. It’s perfect for lunch and dinner.

• Bread: A student staple. From sandwiches at lunch to beans on toast at midnight, bread is hard to beat.

To mix things up, change the type of bread you buy every week and switch to bread rolls, bagels or wraps.

• Noodles: Quick, easy and cheap. You really can’t go wrong with 12 cent noodles from Tesco.

• Cereal: Great for breakfast, but even better for dessert when you mix it with melted chocolate. It works best with Rice Krispies (or cheaper equivalent).

• Rice: Perfect side dish for many meals such as curry, sweet and sour chicken and risotto.

• Potatoes: Versatile and delicious. From buttery mash to homemade chips, the possibilities are endless with the humble potato.

De-stress with the power of yoga T

he life of a student is hard, with all those late nights, tins of beans and cramming sessions, it’s a wonder we have any energy left for the weekend.

But it is important for students to look after themselves and a great way to do this is through yoga.

Yoga is a simple and versatile type of exercise that anyone can do, regardless of fitness levels.

You can start at the bottom, work your way up and you’ll be surprised at how

quickly you’ll improve.

The benefits of yoga are endless and not a lot of people realise just how good it can be. As well as increasing your flexibility, strength and posture, the stretching helps rid your body of harmful toxins and it can boost your immune system and energy levels.

It also helps you get a deep and restful sleep.

As if this wasn’t enough, there are also many ways it can help your mental health, and as students we know all

too well that this is vital.

Yoga is described as being one of the easiest ways to practice mindfulness, which is recommended to combat depression and anxiety. It can help you focus and relax.

By using more of your lung capacity to practice deep breathing, combined with the gentle exercises, yoga boosts your serotonin levels and is proven to make you happier.

There is a slight misconception that yoga is just for

BY AMY ROHU

girls or just for very flexible people but this is completely untrue. Many male athletes recommend the practice and people who aren’t at all flexible can just start out slowly.

It is very important to take time out for yourself and finding ‘me-time’ should be a priority.

All you have to do is wear

something comfortable and prepare to feel great afterwards.

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Restaurant review: Musashi

BY KEAVA O’LOAN

Explore the tastes of Dublin with our fortnightly restaurant reviews M

y friends and I decided to go for dinner on a Wednesday as we thought restaurants wouldn’t be too busy. This was definitely not the case at Musashi sushi bar.

The restaurant is located on Capel Street, tucked away among pawnbrokers, bars, and adult stores.

Although these aren’t the most glamorous surroundings, don’t let that fool you.

This place is a gem.

Closely-packed tables create an atmosphere that is intimate rather than cramped, and staff are friendly and attentive. The menu offers all the classic dishes you would expect from a Japanese restaurant with a fabulous range of sushi, sashimi and ramen to choose from.

Despite the fact there was a full house, service was quick. Our starters of tuna and salmon sashimi

and miso soup were delivered within 10 minutes of ordering.

The miso soup was flavoursome without being too salty, and the sashimi was incredible. It is easy to believe that raw fish will taste the same wherever you get it, but varying quality, freshness and cut can severely alter the taste. This was ocean-fresh, perfectly complemented by the ginger and ribbon-cut vegetables served alongside it, and perhaps the best sashimi I’ve ever had.

After our starters, expectations for the mains were high. Tofu steak went down a treat with everyone, beautifully crispy and not at all greasy.

Another great choice for vegetarians and meateaters alike was the Ya sai Yaki Soba: stir-fried noodles with tofu, cashew nuts and oriental vegetables. Even

when we were full enough to burst, people were fighting over the last scraps in this bowl.

The tatsuta chicken was a little dry, but the soya and ginger marinade made up for it. The star dish was the Musashi ramen: beef,

prawns, chicken, tofu, shiitake mushrooms and oriental vegetables were served with noodles in a miso broth, resulting in a meal that still has me salivating days later.

A range of sake, Japanese beers and wine are

Stand up for yourself and have a laugh W

e’ve all had that dream. You’re standing there, in front of a crowd of your peers. Your pants are around your ankles and everyone’s laughing. You try to speak but nothing comes out. You’re frozen, there’s no escape and you’re stuck there for eternity.

At Rag Relief, that dream became a reality for me. Okay, my pants didn’t fall down but the rest was true.

I took part in the Rag Relief show for a new experience really. I’m no stranger to the stage. I’ve always loved acting and performing. I’m a huge fan

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of live radio and I’ve always enjoyed entertaining people.

It was never really a problem for me. I wondered how stand up could be any different. I never realised how wrong I could be.

It seems obvious but stand up is intensely personal. For most people, it’s only you up there on your own. There’s no character to hide behind. Acting allows you to become another person of your choosing within certain boundaries. In stand up, you have to be you and believe me, that is far more difficult.

I’d like to think that I’m a pretty funny guy. I study all the greats and enjoy mak-

ing people laugh. I made the mistake of thinking that stand up is as simple as that. But stand up is a different beast. Words on paper may look funny at first but the performance element is vital to the whole set. Comic timing and your use of movement are key to making sure you get the reaction you want and to have them eating out of the palm of your hand.

The thoughts, the feelings and the messages you’re expressing on stage are your own. You lay yourself before the audience and hope to spark a reaction. Getting a laugh can be tough. Audiences can spot

a fake from a mile away and appreciate something that’s close to home. They want to use you as a way to laugh at themselves.

In the end, it was so worth it. The buzz you get when a zinger hits home is almost indescribable. To

available, although you can bring your own wine with a corkage price of €6 per bottle.

Prices were studentfriendly and I would definitely recommend Musashi to sushi virgins and connoisseurs alike.

BY AIDAN DELANEY

have all eyes on you and to impress a room is one of the best feelings in the world. It was a great experience, one I’d advise everyone to try. It’s scary at first but it’s an undertaking that will reward you to no end.