Eddie Izzard - Stripped

So last night Anna and I jumped on the Red Line to Park Street to catch Eddie Izzard's second show of his American Tour at the Orpheum Theater in Boston. Now, I pretty much hate the Orpheum as a place to see a show... it's too large, it's run down, and at least 75% of the seats are terrible (and with music at least, you don't even want seats because it screws up the vibe so badly)... which is, I guess, pretty much the case with every old theater from a million years ago that survives to be the "step-down-from-the-arena" venue. Regardless though, if it wasn't so big with so many terrible seats, there is no way I would have been able to get tickets to the show, since I found out about the show a month late... so for that, at least, I am thankful, since Eddie Izzard is probably my favourite comic these days (though I am no connaisseur of stand-up, to be sure).

Our seats were in the first row of the very tippy top section of seats in the left balcony... which meant plenty of legroom, though, thanks to the angle, our view of the stage was obstructed by railings and people's heads, requiring some odd body positions to actually see much at all. Presumably our situation was better than the people behind us. With many comedians, it wouldn't really matter if you could see or not, but Eddie is actually a pretty physical comedian... not in the falling down sense... but he uses facial expressions and gestures a lot for effect, that made some bits a little mysterious from the rafters. It seemed obvious that a video screen mounted up high with a single camera would have alleviated all that, but I don't really know what that involves, so maybe it's prohibitive in expense/effort. But anyway, if anyone reading this is seeing the show in another city and sitting in the way back, I hope they've deemed to add it for your enjoyment.

Now, I don't want to make it sound like the show was ruined by not being able to see well... it most certainly wasn't, as the man does tell actual jokes and doesn't just make funny faces for two hours. The general theme of the show was religion, and how it really just doesn't make any sense. (Probably not a comedy show for Creation "Scientists") He sort of takes you on a tour of the history of the earth, from 4.5 million years ago to Moses with his usual numerous digressions. I don't think I'll say much more than that as I don't want to spoil it for anyone.

So despite the bad seat, I did really enjoy it. Pretty classic Eddie, and I look forward to the HBO special or whatever.