However his Dressed to Kill show proved that he hadn't lost his edge even if the material for this show was wheeled out over a US and UK tour, he still managed to make it fresh as if it was all coming to him there and then. Along the way he even has to deal with a heckler! By 1998 Izzard had started to try and get into films and had had a huge amount of exposure and had been piled high with awards for his comedy. He covers everything from the greta escape, the British empire, being a transvestite to Star Wars and puberty. Eddie Izzard delivers over 70 minutes of scatological material to a sold out crowd. Recorded at the Stage Door Theatre in San Franciso one night in 1998. I went to Italy over the summer, and all I could think about while I was there was how 'Italians are always on scooters going 'CIAO.'' 10 out of 10. His style is incredibly refreshing, and it is nice to hear jokes about things like history and puberty when most comedians stick to current events. While many stand-up comedians mesh together in my brain, Eddie Izzard stands out as one of the best. During the first couple of minutes, you can tell that the audience isn't quite sure what to think, but he quickly wins them over with his incredible humor and wit. The next time it was on, I made sure to tape it so I could watch it over and over again, and it has remained one of my favorite things to watch. I didn't change the channel until he was finished, it was so incredibly hilarious. Naturally, I did a double-take and decided I'd watch for a little while. One of Izzard's most well-known routines was performed during Dress To Kill: a satirical depiction of Church of England fundamentalism, wherein Izzard explains how Church of England fundamentalism would be impossible because people would be shouting out 'You must have tea and cake with the vicar or you DIE!' and 'CAKE OR DEATH?!' The latter phrase has become so well known that it is now the name of an Eddie Izzard fansite and has inspired a Christian website called Anglican Memes for those who 'like gentle fun being poked at the church but are not interested in church-bashing or posting anything offensive.So I'm at home, flipping channels one night, and I come across this man wearing heels and makeup, standing in front of a colored background on HBO. An encore is then performed, featuring Izzard delivering the plot of the film Speed in French and explaining how her schoolboy French, ('la souris est sous la table, le chat est sur la chaise, et le singe est sur la branche') serves her in France itself. This is from Poland! And if you don't know the geography, it goes Poland, Czechoslovakia, Holland, Venezuela, Africa, Beirut, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and then Switzerland.').ĭiversions are also made in relation to the Heimlich maneuver and the American Dream, while the performance ends with Izzard re-telling the story of how she didn't lose her virginity. She is particularly fond of Steve McQueen's role in the film, and goes to great lengths to explain how inaccurate his escape through Central Europe actually is ('within fifteen minutes he's on the borders of Switzerland. Izzard, a self-proclaimed film buff, also describes the plot of The Great Escape in a semi-improvised manner. Similar to her use of Sean Connery as the voice of Henry VIII, she uses the voice of James Mason as the voice of God. Ich habe einen kleinen Problemo avec diese Religione.' 'He was from everywhere,' explains Izzard to great cheers from the audience.

This is set against the backdrop of Martin Luther pinning his 95 Theses on the door of Wittenberg Cathedral, a paper that reads 'Eine Minuten bitte. This is done with Izzard adopting a very Italian accent (and miming riding on a Vespa) to signify the Pope talking to Henry VIII ('who is Sean Connery for this film') and explaining that he can't marry as many wives as he wants to. The centerpiece of the performance is a retelling of British history from Stonehenge through to the Reformation. This is explained through a proposal for the Army's 'first battalion transvestite brigade.with fantastic makeup and a fantastic gun.' Additionally, Izzard takes time to explain her background as an executive transvestite and how it affected her desire to join the military. Izzard's humour includes observations on the American concept of history, beginning with her quote 'I grew up in Europe, where the history comes from' and continuing through diversions about the belief that all Europeans live in castles ('we just long for a bungalow or something') and the attitude of Americans toward historical landmarks. Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, California, United States

Dressed to kill eddie izzard