Eddie Izzard: Circle

Multitalented Emmy-winning and Tony-nominated transvestite comedian Eddie Izzard glitters in this June 2000 standup performance held at Town Hall in New York City. Prettily dressed in black--sparkly top, tight pants, pointy high heels--Izzard promptly shows viewers the funny as he offers up his usual mix of satiric riffs on contemporary events, history, and pop culture. Targets include his own accent, the Crusades, Charlton Heston (“He's had a few run-ins with monkeys, hasn't he?”), the evolution--and sexiness--of the term “bastard,” Alexander the Great, the Milky Way, dinosaurs, the literal connotations of the word “Godspeed,” mad cow disease, Galileo, and facelifts. Not quite as sidesplitting as Dressed to Kill (VL-1/03), Circle nevertheless finds Izzard engaging, delivering his act with wide-eyed dramatics, expressive wiggling, and devilish expressions. DVD extras include audio commentary, featurettes, a raw cut of a Paris “Dress to Circle” performance, a trivia track, and a screensaver. Satisfactorily silly and sharp, this is recommended. Aud: P. (J. Williams)