V for Vendetta - the "V" stands for "Awesome"

V for Vendetta was simply amazing. A group of us went to see it following a ComedySportz show last weekend and we haven't stopped talking about it. We even almost went to see it again this weekend were it not for the siren call of my newest purchase (which I'll get to in a second). The story comes from a comic book (or "graphic novel"), but you never really get that sense while watching the movie. The story is actually pretty realistic in terms of the way the government has evolved and while the idea of a terrorist being a hero may not be the most apropos at this time, I think the film is able to pull it off. Hugo Weaving (who stars as "V") is making quite a pedigree for himself in Hollywood following his runs in The Matrix and Lord of the Rings trilogies. And Natalie Portman is great as well (yes, she is really bald). It's also made from those same fellers that did The Matrix and you can totally see it's influences in various scenes (especially the fight scenes).

See this movie.

At long last, some redecorating has happened around the homestead as Steph and I took a little visit to American Furniture and made a purchase or two. Arguably, the most exciting for me is this:That little bad boy is a 32" Sharp Aquos, LCD screen with an HDTV tuner built-in. So now we can enjoy Project Runway, Scrubs, and various other fare in high-def as well as surround sound since I got talked into buying one of those Bose speaker sets everyone keeps talking about. I say "can enjoy" because I am frighteningly inept at hooking up anything electrical so the speaker system is currently functioning as an oversized and very expensive paperweight at the moment. However, this weekend is going to prove fruitful as my best bud is in town and we're going to, as Tim Gunn might say, "make it work!" We're giving it it's trial run on Tuesday night when King Kong comes out on DVD. As for more furniture pieces, a new couch and bed set are next on the agenda.

(Look ma! I'm growin' up!)

A Midsummer Nights Dream is also right around the corner as we go up the next two weekends (click on the Prenzie Players link to the right for more info). Personally, the line load for this show is much greater than it was for the very successful run of Twelfth Night we did in October, and I'm more nervous for this show than I have been for just about any other show I've done. Factor in to that we've also had a shorter rehearsal schedule (by two weeks!) and we're still not completely costumed, and you've got yourself a...........well...........a typical Prenzie experience, actually! This being only my second show with this troupe, I'm being reassured by all the veteran Prenzie's that this is par for the course and, as the old theatrical saying goes, "I don't know how it works, but it all just works out in the end."

There's apparently an improv tournament at the end of April in Raliegh, N.C. that some Kansas City improvers are going to and I'm trying to piece together a troupe to go as well. The only problem is, I don't know if I can talk our CSz branch into ponying up some dough to help with expenses. After my recent purchases, I unfortunately don't really have that much extra dough to throw around at the moment and Steph and I are also saving up for a trip to Arizona in May for my sisters wedding.

Let's just all get together and make snot a form of currency or something. Then we'd all be filthy rich - literally.

That's the what-up from around these parts. If you're in the area, come see the show! If you're not the area, make a road trip and come see the show anyway!