THOSE familiar with the comedic works of Eddie Izzard will be unsurprised to hear that his 'secret' performance at Lancaster's Grand Theatre was laced with surreal observation and chock-full of his trademark verbal meanderings.
Eddie Izzard, Grand Theatre, Lancaster, May 26
The whole thing, to be honest, had something of the bizarre about it.
The very fact that such a huge name was visiting our lovely provincial theatre was odd enough without the added weirdness of
a performance that was due to start at 10.30pm.
And start it did, with a comfortable looking Izzard strolling onto the stage to rapturous applause.
After a few Lancaster-based observations and some fanciful descriptions of the War of the Roses he settled into a routine that ticked all the boxes one would expect from such a consummate stand-up comedian.
With plenty of entertaining audience participation, something one imagines is somewhat lacking in his huge arena gigs, Eddie took us on a tour of the origins of planet earth and the history of human development discussing the stone age, the birth of language, religion and conflict.
One particularly hilarious moment had the comedian acting out the role of a Bayeux Tapestry-weaver covering the Battle of Hastings in the style of a paparazzi journalist. Other quality moments included his various depictions of the animal kingdom, often reminding one of the cartoons of Gary Larson, such as giraffes communicating through the medium of the cough and the origins of the phrase 'a wolf in sheep's clothing'.
All told the performance was a real treat and the sold-out crowd seemed to leave the The Grand in high spirits having witnessed one the world's finest comedians doing exactly what he does best.
