SEXIE
@ City Center
A
Review by Brianna Austin
(Girl
Talk Magazine)
The
sounds of Tom Jones are pumping through the
theater as graphic images appear on a large
screen at the back of the stage. In the closing
image we get the sensation that we are traveling
through a worm–hole -- a term used in many
science fiction films to describe a sort of
vortex or portal, to get you from one place in
space to another quickly. Perhaps it’s a
Sci-Fi rabbit hole, but either way I sensed we
were about to enter the mind of Eddie Izzard.
With
little warning s-he casually strolled onto the
stage wearing black high-heeled boots and a
black skirt slit up the side. The audience,
which appeared to be totally straight, displayed
their enthusiasm with thunderous applause. S-he
immediately informed them that s-he was now
sporting breasts, faux breasts anyway, silicone
forms that created the illusion of breasts -
just in case they hadn’t noticed.
Eddie was happy to have breasts now, and
explained that when a waiter says “Your tea sir,”
s-he’ll reply, “thank you, set it right here
… on my tit,
… then fuck off, OK.”
Eddie
is a bit of a paradox in that s-he has starred
on stage and in films such as Shadow Of the
Vampire as a man, and at the same
time enjoys a career as a cross-dressing stand
up comedian - perhaps the most recognized
heterosexual cross-dresser in the world. Or more
accurately, in her/his own words, “an
Executive Transvestite. ” Following the
success of the last show Dressed To Kill,
this new one is also receiving rave reviews.
Eddie doesn’t cross-dress as an act; it is a
way of life. In an interview with our Editor,
Gina Lance, Eddie once explained that people
back home certainly knew s-he was a
cross-dresser, after all s-he traveled the tube
(subway) everyday.
The
quickest whit in stand up comedy since Robin
Williams, Eddie has a conversational style of
delivery, which is more like a rambling of
different ideas and stories. S-he talks about
anything, and everything, and you have to laugh.
When appearing to have nothing to say s-he
bounces in place for a moment - as though s-he
was hyperactive from drinking too much coffee,
or perhaps had to pee … really badly. The arms
would move as if to conger up a new thought,
which of course never takes very long. S-he
identifies and explores silly situations,
people, Sci-Fi, politics, and history. There is
no subject off limits, especially Royalty, and
as one of the Queen’s loyal subjects, the
English are in the crosshairs along with
everyone else.
But
while s-he is making us laugh, think, and
continues to break down one type of social
stereotype, s-he enforces another: that heterosexual
cross-dressers have really bad fashion sense. I
love the whit, intelligence, and humor, but the
strange combination of the blue and red
military-esque jacket, with a black skirt and
boots made me think, “Eddie, please re-think
the outfit.” I look at the press shot and
think "great," so what happened to the
motorcycle look? I’m kidding of course (no
I’m not), of course I am (no I’m not).
What's
important is that Eddie Izzard is transcending
gender roles, making who you are more important
than what you are, and for that, you go gurl,
you’re forgiven anything. SEXIE is a
commentary of high thought delivered through
exploration of the ridiculous. And, with
audiences worldwide becoming more familiar with
Eddie Izzard – the person - people are more
likely (now) to say, “oh, you’re a
cross-dresser, like that funny English
comedian,” rather than, “Ahhhhh, you’re a
cross-dresser like Anthony Perkins in Psycho.”
For
more info about Eddie Izzard, video clips, show
schedules and tickets: www.eddieizzard.com
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