Eddie's Back on the Gag Wagon
The Province | 08.28.03

He's been called a comic genius. Two Emmy Awards to his name support that. His videos, DVDs and live shows sell out. And he looks great in Gauthier.

Small wonder Eddie Izzard named his new show Sexie.

"My previous show Circle took on a life of its own and stuck around," says Izzard. "I wanted a title I wouldn't tire of for this one."

Good thing, too, as the U.K. actor/comedian is embarking on the largest North American tour of his career with Sexie. Fresh off his Tony Award-nominated performance on Broadway in Peter Nichols' A Day in the Life of Joe Egg, Izzard is ready to get back on the gag-wagon.

"They made me sign a contract that I wouldn't ad-lib at all in the play, which was hard. That's what I do, after all, and I lose it doing it.

"People quote stuff and I'm taken aback; 'Did I say that?'"

Describing his humour as "real surreal socio-political historical stuff," Izzard balances both his careers with individual flair.

The women's clothing habit dates back to the straight transvestite's youth. He's parlayed it into some interesting film roles.

"In the movie All the Queen's Men, I played what must be one of the first, if not the only, action transvestite roles of all time. I have this big moment, great scene, where I tear off my dress, grab a machine gun and jump out of a plane to start shooting Nazis."

Coming later in '03 is Muraya, "a baguette-y Western" based on a strip by French Heavy Metal comic artist Moebius."

IN CONCERT

Eddie Izzard

Where: Vogue Theatre

When: Tomorrow-Saturday, 8 p.m.

Tickets: $40, $50 at Ticketmaster

sderdeyn@png.canwest. com