Izzard comes alive in portrayal of crusading Bruce
BOY GEORGE | Lineone.net

Izzard comes alive in portrayal of crusading Bruce

The reviews of Eddie Izzard in the role of Lenny Bruce, at London's Queen's Theatre, have been shaky to say the least and I must admit that I found the first half-hour very difficult, almost boring. It's only when Izzard gets fully into character as Bruce that the performance comes alive.

However, I'm so glad that I didn't leave during the interval because the show just got better and better. Izzard is without question a genius and American comedienne, Joan Rivers, who was in the audience and knew Lenny Bruce, had nothing but praise for Izzard's interpretation.

The important thing about this play is the insight it gives you into Bruce's personality and intelligence. Lenny Bruce took on the might of American morality and died a broken man, but his fight against hypocrisy and censorship is as relevant today as it was in the Sixties.

Izzard, a self-proclaimed transvestite who describes himself as a "lesbian trapped in a man's body", was born for the role of Bruce. Especially when you consider that transvestites and transsexuals, many of whom are actually heterosexual, are even now persecuted and denied civil rights.

By the end of the play Izzard has the whole audience transfixed and I, for one, was left wanting to know more about Lenny Bruce.

I went along expecting a few laughs but Eddie Izzard as Bruce is much more than comedy; it is an emotional roller-coaster.

 

Slim hope of civility

Talking of persecution, the other evening I found myself at the after party for the movie South Park at London's Roof Gardens. There I was about to dig into the buffet when I spotted a group of people giggling and pointing at me. This is not unusual - I get pointed at every day - but I overheard one of the women in the group saying that I was fat.

I was very hurt and couldn't understand why this woman needed to make such a cruel comment. I know I'm not Kate Moss but neither am I Pavarotti. I approached her and said: "Excuse me, but you're not exactly thin yourself, love."

She looked shocked but could hardly argue with me from her obvious glasshouse. I am always appalled by the rudeness of strangers but I am intelligent enough to realise that it's mostly projection. People who feel bad about themselves often project it on to others but that's no consolation when you're in the firing line.

 

I'm all smoked out

I am celebrating this week because I have given up smoking after three years of puffing at least two packs a day. The man I have to thank is Mr Alan Carr whose book, simply called How To Stop Smoking, has stopped me for the second time.

I didn't touch a cigarette until I was 26 and then I gave up for eight years. Lord knows how I started again, but I did and cigarettes, as anyone who reads this column will know, have literally controlled my life ever since. I have to laugh when I think of how much time I have wasted in pursuit of my particular brand from Los Angeles to Hong Kong. Of course, I still uphold the rights of smokers. After all, it's still early days for me as an ex-smoker and there's nothing worse than an ex-anything.