Just got back from Hedda Gabler at the Steppenwolf. I'd never seen it before. Quite a good production, with our friend (and Girl's Night Out bad movie aficionado) Amy J. Carle as Thea and Martha Plimpton as Hedda. I recommend it. Not exactly a happy-go-lucky night of brain candy, but you'll have that with Ibsen.

Which reminds me -- are there any Scandinavian comedies? I mean, I joke about my stodgy northern European background, but damn. Granted, Ibsen was Norwegian and my Scandinavian roots are Danish, but still. What is it -- No sunlight? Too much herring? A surplus of sweaters?

The other thing I rediscovered (besides my apparent genetic predisposition for depression and weighty issues) was the joy of ushering. Lotti and I checked out the show for free, and all we had to do was dress like penguins. Think about it -- you show up, you stuff some programs, you take some tickets, and bingo, you get a seat for the show. For free. It makes having to shower and put on real clothes on a Sunday a not-so-bad proposition.