Night & Day Events

Thursday, April 28
We’re not quite sure what to make of this movie critic contest we heard about recently. The rules are pretty straightforward: Videotape yourself reviewing any movie in a minute or less. Mail or deliver to WDAF Fox 4, 3030 Summit, Kansas City, MO 64108, before 5 p.m. April 30. Attach your name, address, phone number and date of birth to the VHS tape. We get all that. It’s the sponsor that has us a little concerned. After a selection committee picks three finalists, the Big Winna is chosen by viewers through an e-mail vote after their tapes are screened on Fox 4’s morning news. Fox 4. As in Fox 4, home of Shawn Edwards, the obsequious film reviewer whose head might implode if he were forced to refrain from hyperbole. If the station is the sponsor and the grand prize includes a guest stint on the show’s “Screening Room” segment, we’re just wondering what the judging criteria could possibly be. Certainly not expertise. In fact, unless you’re really attractive — or you really, really loved Crossroads — we say forget about it. Complete contest rules are available from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the station.

Friday, April 29
Theater visionary Ping Chong wants us all to just get along. As part of his “Secret History” series, Chong goes into communities, interviews local citizens about big-ticket topics such as race and culture, then presents their stories in a multimedia work that combines theater, dance, video and song. Chong’s Native Voices — Secret History, through April 30 at the Lied Center (1600 Stewart Drive in Lawrence), draws participants from both Haskell Indian Nations University and the Lawrence Native American community to delve into their traditions, experiences and stereotypes. And $28 seems like a small price to pay for bridge-building, doesn’t it? Call 785-864-2787 for information and tickets.

Saturday, April 30

A recent trip to one of our favorite Web sites, www.worldwide words.com, answered one of those dorky questions that keeps us up late at night: Why do the English pronounce the h in herb, whereas Americans drop it, à la the French? (Hey, we told you we were dorky.) Actually, in the 17th and 18th centuries, English speakers on both sides of the Atlantic pronounced it the same way. It was only during the 19th century that Brits started to say the h — what linguists (our heroes!) call a spelling pronunciation. So remember that the next time you take your Austin Powers imitation to the John Wornall House Museum’s (6115 Wornall Road) annual Spring Herb and Wildflower Sale, starting at 9 a.m. today. Call 816-444-1858 for information.

Sunday, May 1

We felt very dumb when we discovered that one of our go-to girl movies, Sabrina, was actually adapted from a play written by Samuel Taylor. (Contrary to popular opinion, we think the 1995 version is better than the 1954 version. We adore you, Bogey, but we’re way over Audrey.) We generally pride ourselves on that kind of snob detail, and to repent for not knowing, we’re going to today’s auditions for the Bell Road Barn Players’ upcoming production of Sabrina Fair from 1 to 4 p.m. at Park University’s Old Gymnasium (8700 Northwest River Park Drive, Parkville). Never mind that we couldn’t act our way out of a paper bag; the title role of the bright and beautiful daughter of a wealthy family’s chauffeur will be ours. Call 816-587-0218 for more information.

Monday, May 2

By the end of the first run of Bar Natasha’s version of American Idol, co-owner Missy Koonce says a lot of people who had been following the contest were “itching to get up onstage and compete.” And people itching to get up onstage and compete means people itching to get in the door and purchase drinks (at least, that’s what it would take for us), so the show is happily getting the sequel treatment. The search for Kansas City’s next cabaret star begins tonight with open auditions for Bar Natasha Idol II, starting at 8 p.m. at 1911 Main Street. Contestants perform one song (show tunes, standards, rock-pop or country) of their choice. Those who make it to the next round — which means securing the approval of repeat judges (and Pitch writers) Steve Walker and Charles Ferruzza, among others — face a weekly elimination process until only one queen is left standing. The grand-prize winner gets his or her own cabaret show in June. Call 816-472-5300 or see www.barnatasha.com for more information.

Tuesday, May 3

The second installment of Bullseye, a new showcase of award-winning documentaries, is The Take. Director Avi Lewis and writer Naomi Klein combine the narratives of 30 unemployed auto-parts workers in Buenos Aires — who walk into their idle factory, roll out sleeping mats and refuse to leave — with accounts of their families, stories of their struggles for jobs and dignity, and comments by factory owners, politicians and judges. In this controversial age of globalization, it’s a political thriller that pits ordinary workers against the local ruling elite. The film screens tonight at 7 at Screenland Theater (1656 Washington, 816-421-2900).

Wednesday, May 4

If we could somehow apply the whole apple-a-day maxim to purchasing computer products instead of eating the fruit, well, we’d totally be typing this on a sweet G5. Until that day arrives, though, we’ll drag our Mac-loving ass to Signs of Life bookstore (722 Massachusetts Street in Lawrence) for today’s 7 p.m. meeting of the Lawrence Apple User’s Group 2.0. This month’s meeting — which has the theme “Can You Hear Me Now?” — focuses on using an iPod, which we always thought was pretty idiot-proof. Members also will discuss blogs and how to set them up. Just in case you don’t have one of your own yet. Luddite. See www.laugks.org for information. This Weeks Day-By-Day Picks