Dress to Kill
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Eddie Izzard's performance of "Dress To Kill" is a continuation of the British comedian's surrealist, ideas-based comedy. The video and DVD are taken from an American performance from San Francisco, California; however, the tour was a global one.
Izzard's humour includes observations on the American concept of history, beginning with his throwaway line "I grew up in Europe, where the history comes from" and continuing through diversions about the belief that all Europeans live in castles ("we just long for a bungalow or something") and the attitude of Americans to historical landmarks. Additionally, Izzard takes time to explain his background as an executive transvestite and how it impacted on his desire to join the military - this is explained through a proposal for the Army's "first battalion transvestite brigade", "with fantastic makeup and a fantastic gun."
The centrepiece of the performance is a retelling of British history from Stonehenge through to the Reformation. This is done with Izzard adopting a very Italian accent (and miming riding on a moped) to signify the Pope talking to Henry VIII ("who is Sean Connery for this film") and explaining that he can't marry as many wives as he wants to. This is set against the backdrop of Martin Luther pinning his 95 Theses on the door of Wittenburg Cathedral, a paper that reads "Einen Minuten bitte. Ich habe einen kleinen Problemo avec diese Religione" ("He was from everywhere", explains Izzard to great cheers from the audience).
Diversions are also made in relation to the Heimlich maneuver and the American Dream, while the performance ends with Izzard re-telling the story of how he didn't lose his virginity. An encore is then performed, featuring Izzard delivering the plot of the film "Speed" in French and explaining how his schoolboy French serves him in France itself.