What work is Eddie Izzard. The first time that this criticism has known the inimitable Brit Holding runs to San Francisco, the “transvestite” of self-written action was an elastic laughter machine, pivoting the lampons of James Bond with Stonehenge’s reflections in the “dress to kill absefully hilarious”.
Now, the great lady of the genre fluid is back in a solo “hamlet”, a quick sprint through the emblematic Shakespearean tragedy.
Alas, there is little room in this tragic masterpiece for the signature brand of Izzard with lacerant spirit. In the absence of this atmosphere of Standup, the flow of live consciousness and the Libs for which it is rightly venerated, Izzard feels much less electric on stage.
Bangé in black leather, it shines through the 23 parts of this solo program, in an adaptation rationalized by Mark Izzard which is a little too strongly produced by Selina Cadell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay0Tah-0u
While there is a storm here, wearing lips and red nails effortlessly, many roles feel less than the fenced. Those who do not know the play can lose the thread in this iambic marathon while Zzzard rushes madly, making the first trail of the first act.
The bard is certainly lasting enough to withstand a myriad of interpretations of the text, but the theatrical aesthetics are not clear enough here to fully penetrate poetry.
The portrait of melancholy dune itself lacks gravity, alas, which undermines the existential power of the room. The frantic pace also conspires against the depth of passion. The unhappy Ophélia becomes short here, just like the queen.
It is in moments of comics that this “hamlet” shines the most. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tickle the funny bone like duel hand puppets. The Snarky tombers are making great cheerfulness by telling people of “fucking themselves”.
Even the brief epilogue of Izzard, dedicating charming performance to a Comrade Théspian, crackles with more verve than the most famous of the soliloquies. Obviously, there is something that does not go in the state of Denmark.
Contact Karen d’ouza in karenpdsouza@yahoo.com.
‘Eddie Izzard Hamlet’
Presented by American Conservatory Theater
Through: April 20
Or: Act’s Strand Theater, 1127 Market St., San Francisco
Operating time: 2 hours 5 minutes, an intermission
Through: April 20
Details: $ 78 – $ 127; www.act-sf.org
Originally published:
California Daily Newspapers
