Eddie Izzard, Force Majeure Reloaded, comedy review: Behind this show’s scattershot logic is a sincere plea for universal tolerance

If the first half was Simon Schama with added surrealism, the stronger, shorter second half was more personal and funnier as Izzard touched on his youth, dreaming of joining the SAS while shoplifting make-up from Bexhill Boots, says Bruce Dessau
Hit his stride quickly: Izzard delivered a gloriously sprawling show about history
Andy Hollingworth
Bruce Dessau21 January 2016

Eddie Izzard’s long-term plans currently include attempting to become a Labour MP at the next General Election. But before Westminster there is the West End to conquer.

While the 53-year-old has one mascara'd eye on his future career, this gloriously sprawling show is more about history. World history and the unconventional star’s own history. The self-styled ‘action transvestite’ was mostly in man mode for Force Majeure Reloaded's opening night, with scarlet nails accompanying an immaculate dark suit and white shirt. He hit his stride quickly, suggesting that in ancient times someone called Steve was beheaded so that his friend could get more spoons. Apparently an English king wore a spaniel on his head. It is probably not a good idea to quote Izzard in exams.

It is a neat coincidence that Spamalot previously ran in this theatre as there was more than a hint of Holy Grail in the way Izzard stirred together grand motifs and the mundane. There was even a very Pythonesque Spanish Inquisition reference alongside the occasional topical nod: “Humanity can go backwards. Which I think is the motto for UKIP.”

If the first half was Simon Schama with added surrealism, the stronger, shorter second half was more personal and funnier as Izzard touched on his youth, dreaming of joining the SAS while shoplifting make-up from Bexhill Boots. Unlikely juxtapositions appear to be the theme of his life as well as his humour. Izzard's Parlimentary ambitions are intriguing because his comedy rarely seems to be about real issues. Yet behind this show’s sometimes scattershot logic there is a sincere plea for universal tolerance.

Despite the oddball jokes about Caesar and his salads, the Star Wars skits and the daft dressage impressions, Force Majeure Reloaded is his most political set yet.

Until Feb 20, Palace Theatre (0330 333 4813, nimaxtheatres.com)

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