The Eddie Izzard Stripped show was packed on Thursday night, and started about 10 minutes after 8 due to people still trickling in late. They were staunch about no cameras and even checked purses and handbags at the door of the chicago theater to make sure no one had a camera with them. If you did it got confiscated at the request of the artist. (a bit harsh maybe?) This is most likely because it’s early in the tour and things haven’t quite gelled yet. Chicago was only the 4th or 5th city on the tour so spoiling it for people later through the cunning use of digital devices isn’t really fair. Anyway, mine wasn’t in my purse so they didn’t have a problem with me. I also respected the camera ban and did not take any inside the theater.
Eddie had a very traditional bunch of songs playing beforehand like pomp and circumstance and fancy opera stuff. I assume he liked the history about them or something because they wouldn’t be expected choices for before a standup comedy show. When he was going to come on stage the lights dimmed and a short lights show ala Glorious happened with some hip yet mature instrumental music and then voila the lights pivoted to the stage and there he was. If you have a good trick like this you should re-use it and bringing back the Glorious-esque opening was a good move.
The audience was enthusiastic and cheered wildly when he walked on stage with his trademark chin up swagger, yet they did not give him a standing ovation and they quieted down relatively quickly when he started talking. It is nice that Eddie tries to localize his opening to talk a little about the city he is in, because we know these tours go on forever and everything looks the same from on stage. The audience likes that you actually know where they are and something about their city. He did have some weak facts though about the windy city being a name from politicians being long winded and not because of the wind. But it’s still windy here anyway. Not so funny. He could have had just about anything and he chose that? But then again maybe he hasn’t had a chance to walk around and see the city yet, taste the steak and pizza and smell the pollution and traffic.
The stage is a simpler backdrop and design than in the past but still a bit puzzling. Really he doesn’t need anything behind him at all, because he sets the stage, themes and mood with his comedy, not with sets. There were large beige fabric panels hanging with rock patterns and cave painting hieroglyphics on them. We thought maybe he was going to do something from “Defending the Caveman” perhaps? And on the top left quartile of this fabric backdrop was a rectangle cut out that was a digital screen that seemed to have nothing to do with the performance itself. It looked like a hanging flat screen TV with different images on it that changed from an ocean behind 2 palm trees to a human’s eye which changed colors behind two bars to a moon rising and setting behind these 2 bars. What does that mean?
His comedic bits start at the beginning of time and try and get somewhat bouncing around through major points of civilization’s history. Yet there was no story or relevance rooted in his life or ours in the telling. He does hint at the US not allowing its citizens to travel anymore because we start too many wars by pissing over the fence but doesn’t make a strong sociopolitical argument in the show. He also points out (rather weakly because someone most likely told him there are Catholics in the audience) that there is no god and all the historical evidence backs this up.
If anything is the basis for the content of the show, "disproving religion with history" is it. But why is that earth shattering? We have all known that for years. In fact I don’t think that anyone could be a fan of Eddie Izzard without that as a given. He mentioned later that he had been back to Yemen (where he was born) recently and that it had a profound impact on him. Maybe seeing the cradle of civilization and interacting with many different religions and cultures was what prompted this thought process? Maybe just late night TV? Why not mention some origins of thought in the beginning to justify all this re-examination and make it relatable? Not all of us watch the history channel every day and naturally have these inclinations.
I have a theory that the further you go back in history, the less people care about it and the harder it is for them to relate to. Personally I used to have a before 1900 – I don’t care policy. I realize now this was short sighted, but how much is really relevant to my daily life from before the industrial revolution?
I think what Eddie is getting at as a point or theme in the show is “How did we get here?” How did we-him-me-us-you-and-them all end up here, right now, doing what we are doing, thinking, believing and living as we are? And what is funny/weird about it? What beliefs do we have that are completely illogical, bizarre and disproved by science and history? What unthinkable things have changed effortlessly because of the new technology available now? Where the hell are we going?
Later he does return to his talking animals and surrealist sound effects that he likes to do with the microphone. He enjoys pointing out it’s only a mime when people go ewww when he makes a particularly gross skin ripping sound. (at least these are faster than the 15 minute wind horseback riding wind sound from Sexie) He also has fun with some hecklers and looks like he almost looses his train of thought when they interrupt him. He also has less energy and a less manic pace at which he moves these days. Maybe that is from the contrast of doing drama work, maybe he was tired for all this travel or maybe this isn’t as fun 20 years later?
I also heard that he uses his iPhone to look up things he doesn’t know about while on stage performing. And since I got no signal on my phone in the theater I didn’t know if he would be able to pull this off. He did use the iPhone but not to look something new up, but to look up the exact wording to prove a point on a definition. This worked either because they came prepared with their own cell tower or because he had archived the page in the phone just in case. Anyway, I did look the term up he used in the show and it was exactly what he said it was, so he wasn’t ad-libbing that part.
I still had 3 or 4 other spontaneous laugh out loud moments and the audience generally chuckled throughout the entire show. My eyes were literally blurry because I need glasses and I only saw that devilish grin of I’m having fun up here maybe once or twice from the 15th row.
Yet, I got the feeling that although the Thursdy night audience was very polite and so was he, it wasn’t a totally “on” performance. Chicago loves Eddie Izzard and wants to see him more often. Eddie Izzard loves a 3,000 seat sold out theater even if it is in the middle of America. So, we were both mutually pleased but not wowed. He not with us, and us not with him. So, we will see if the funny gets funnier tomorrow at the second show.
After the show I found the group of addicted Eddie fans behind the theater in the alley patiently waiting to meet him as the garbage truck picked up the trash. There was a ginormous bodyguard guy by the door of the theater and we sensed that if we waited something would eventually happen. And it did. The bodyguard told everyone to come in a semicircle and they couldn’t follow directions fast enough. Then Eddie came out and did a Q&A with the 100 or so of us there waiting to see him. It was nice because he admitted he didn’t have time to meet and autograph things for everyone, but he could talk for 15 minutes and answer questions. As always, you think he is taller until you see him in person and realize not only is he a regular guy in eyeliner, he isn’t a million feet tall either. These are a summary and paraphrasing of some of the Questions and Answers Eddie Izzard gave from standing up on a concrete parking divider.
Q: Where were you born and educated?
A: Born in Yemen, then moved to Northern Ireland and then to Wales and then to Bexhill. He mentions college in Sheffield and another school also.
Q: Which football team are you routing for?
A: Either, Crystal Palace will level them all. Too much money in these teams, it’s not such an interesting sport anymore. Not a level playing field.
Q: Is it true that you and Minnie Driver had never met before that coffee shop?
A: Yes
Q: Did you just ad-lib that whole wikipedia definition?
A: No, it was really there on the phone, see? (holds up phone)
Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to get into comedy?
A: It’s about doing it over and over again. You have to just do as many shows as you can, and you don’t even know where you are until after 100 shows. Keep persisting and you can get through. I didn’t do everything right and had upsa nd downs but kept on pushing for it and got through eventually.
Q: Which do you like better? Stage Comedy Shows or TV work?
A: They’re both great, the Riches is so fast you get up really early and everything gets done very fast. Comedy is different, you wait around all day and then expend all your energy in about 2 hours in the show. But if I had my choice I would just do films because that is my favorite thing to do.
Q: How do you like Chicago?
A: It’s a bit cold really. But it’s nice that people really walk around the downtown area everyday. In some of these downtowns, there isn’t anyone walking around ever.
The Zeus heckler guy was there re-affirming the greek pronunciation of Jesus that he was shouting from the balcony during the show. Something like e-zeus or hesus? Eddie thought the Spanish pronunciation was what he was saying but I am not sure they ever quite understood each other. Another heckler yelled out Jeezy Creezy from Circle also, but they didn't come to the stage door afterwards.
The woman who plays his assistant from The Riches was also in Chicago and came into the alley while the swarm of people was asking him questions. The waters parted, they walked through and went inside and he went on chatting.
Eddie seemed a bit tired and it was hard to hear him over the Chicago downtown outside noise. He was polite as people gushed over him and everything went on for about 25 minutes. Then he took 2 final questions and went back inside with the 6 person entourage and that was it.
Overall, I would say this was a good show to see, but not at 100% yet. My comments about Friday get better.
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