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Brick Wall Comedy
Brick Wall Comedy

Circle

Eddie Izzard

2002 · 82 min

A surreal history lecture interrupted by a Death Star cafeteria argument.

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Eddie Izzard builds an elaborate historical sandbox and casually tosses modern absurdities into it. The standout premise imagines Darth Vader trying to get a meal in the Death Star cafeteria, reducing a sci-fi villain to an annoyed figure demanding basic respect. The overarching theme is loosely tied to religion and world history, allowing her to jump from Pope Pius XII to Jesus interacting with dinosaurs. Instead of setting up traditional punchlines, the humor comes from watching historical figures and pop culture deities deal with mundane frustrations.

Filmed at The Town Hall in New York City in 2000 and released in 2002, the performance arrived right after her breakthrough, Dress to Kill. Decked out in black leather pants and a diamond necklace, Izzard relies heavily on her signature pantomime. The audience has to keep up as a bit about the Spanish Inquisition rapidly mutates into a routine about monkeys firing guns at Charlton Heston’s house.

The set list

4 bits
  1. The closer (spoiler). Show it

    Death Star Canteen closer

    Observes that the Death Star must have had a cafeteria, portraying Darth Vader being denied respect by canteen staff, forced to take a wet tray, and arguing over an order of penne all'arrabbiata.

  2. Monkeys with Guns and Charlton Heston

    Tests the NRA adage that 'guns don't kill people, people kill people' by proposing placing armed chimps inside Charlton Heston's home.

  3. God and Jesus / The Last Supper

    Features God speaking in a James Mason voice, questioning the timing of Jesus's life, and Jesus pitching bizarre sacramental foods to preach to dinosaurs.

  4. Papal Nomenclature and the Spanish Inquisition

    Riffs on future papal names turning into Beatles members ('Pope John Paul George and Ringo') and frames the Spanish Inquisition as an informal chat that spiraled out of hand.

How it plays

Tone
Irreverent, intelligent, absurdist, humane, and self-deprecating.
On stage
A self-described transvestite or weirdo in high-heeled boots, leather trousers, lipstick, and makeup, blending intellectual curiosity with surreal British whimsy.
Pace
Nervous, quick-witted, peripatetic energy reminiscent of early Robin Williams, gliding fluidly through false starts, ad-libs, and physical characterizations.
About
religion and Abrahamic faiths, world history and the Dark Ages, the Renaissance and Da Vinci, guns and the NRA, dinosaurs and human origins, pop culture and Star Wars

What the critics said

Universally lauded by critics for extraordinary intellectual breadth, inventive characterizations, and brilliant stream-of-consciousness delivery that transcends novelty.

In the room: Adoring and electric, greeting the performer with rock-star enthusiasm and nonstop laughter.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, tv.apple.com, comedydynamics.com, filmaffinity.com, auntiemomo.com, variety.com, dvdtalk.com, allmusic.com, latimes.com.

Backstory

Reflecting on millennial history, world religions, creation myths, and contemporary debates on gun control around the year 2000.

Details

Released
Taped
2000, Town Hall, New York City
Runtime
82 min
Director
Anastasia Pappas
Topics
Before
Dress to Kill (1998)
After
Sexie (2003)

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