It's likely that Eddie Izzard is such a good actor due in large part to his gifted ability to tell stories, which is deftly demonstrated in this special - to my knowledge, his first broadcast solo show. I have been following his stand-up career for about a decade now, ever since his Dressed to Kill special first aired on HBO. I had to buy whatever was for sale in America right away, which at first were only audio albums of his specials on iTunes. I was delighted when I found the videos were for sale here on Amazon shortly thereafter, but only was able to purchase a few of them (this one not included) before they became unavailable for sale on the US site. The remaining videos to round up my collection have literally been on my Amazon watchlist for the last 10 years. I can't begin to say how I happy I was to learn that all have become available to stream and purchase again!
Izzard's witty, observational comedy style is as hilarious as it is thought-provoking. And you don't have to be British to follow what's going on. At present, his entire stand-up collection is available here on Amazon. If you like what you hear in this special, be sure to check out the rest while they are still around!

Maybe Eddie Izzard is an acquired taste. Slo what if he's wearing mascara, lipstick and nail polish? Unless he's *talking about his wearing those, and maybe even a dress and all the "fixin's" that go with it, if you close your eyes, he's just a hilarious British comedian whose warped way of looking at the world -- which is often the world around *you as well, even if you're **not** British -- is just plain wacko funny.

This was recorded at the Albery, a high, high theater with pretty good acoustics it seems, in 1994, which was a year or so before someone exposed me to him. It's dadgummed near as fresh today, in 2012 (almost 2013) as it was then. He's got a goofy let's "make up history as it *should have been" way of looking that things that will make you feel like someone nearby must have smoked something funny and you have a contact high. His goony view will leave you staggering.

It's nice to stumble from silly for a change instead of daily horror. I'm glad Eddie Izzard is around, and I wouldn't mind having him for a neighbor. This is a good introduction.Watch Unrepeatable and see mu next door neighbor. I think he's really a cat. ::snickersnort::

I've been looking to find one of his shows that was more brilliant than dressed to kill. This is almost as good for me! So hilarious and quick witted. The disc its self was horrendously filthy with fingerprints and what looked like snot. BUT after some tlc it came out clean and plays well.

Izzard supplements comic genius; John Cleese was of course dead on when he claimed Izzard to be the "lost Python". I have to disagree with the reviewer who suggested the audio was incomprehensible - I agree that it wasn't top notch but it's not at all impossible to understand what Izzard says. Not sure what else to say about that... but I digress.

This is a great show for Izzard fans who've discovered him later in his career (as I have), since you get to see this early phase of his progression in the art - this bit is far less researched and far more experienced, and still as funny if not more so.

Worth the viewing if not also the money, in my opinion of course.

No matter what he says or does, he is hilarious!

This DVD is of a very early Eddie Izzard show done in Great Britain. If you're a huge fan of Izzard it's worth seeing once, just to see the roots of all his best stuff. I mean, this show has to be at the beginning of his career. All the elements are there, including the basic rough threads of what will become polished, roll in the aisle skits and routines. Wearing a big suit jacket over a slightly plump "baby Eddie", he barely hints at his later transvestite persona with some skinny black slacks. His timing is a bit off and his great ability to pause, go into "Stream of Consciousness" mode, then come roaring back isn't yet full on.
It is worth seeing once if you go back to the classic albums about once a year or more, as I do. I bought this DVD because it has a much later picture of Eddie on the cover. If I had known it was of this early, EARLY show, I wouldn't have bothered. Putting a picture of a much more mature Eddie Izzard on the cover of this show is nothing less than "A Bait And Switch" hustle. If you're nuts about Izzard, RENT IT, by all means. If you haven't savored the classics such as: GLORIOUS, DRESSED TO KILL, or DEFINITE ARTICLE, PLEASE don't let this be your first exposure. Any of these should leave you guffawing with a sore belly. Enjoy.
12/30/12 Addendum: Alright, alright! I too, am a huge fan. I'll bump my review to 3 stars. I just really got sore with the much more mature picture of Eddie on the cover. I still think it's a hustle. I just want the newbies to get solidly hooked, so they can view this show with an affectionate eye.

LOVE Eddie Izzard and really enjoyed Unrepeatable but this was filmed before Eddie slowed down a bit and found his legendary timing for asides and extemporaneous flights of fancy. I'm sure I lost more than a little of some of his performance to the fact that I simply couldn't quite "get" every word he said. This isn't quite as good as the amazing Dress To Kill...but it's darn close. And it's Eddie.

If you are a fan of Eddie Izzard, you don't need me to say anything. This is by far one of the best performances he has ever put out. If you have never heard his stand-up, this is one to start you off right.