OUr favourite comedian by Frisky and Mannish

21 July 2019

Oh, don’t make us pick a favourite. It’s too hard. It’s like wine pairing - it depends on what you’re eating, the time of day, general context, feng shui etc… For instance, if we’re in a radio mood we think Liza Tarbuck is deliciously, eye-wateringly funny, whereas online we can’t get enough of the brutally hilarious take-downs from Marina Hyde. If you’re sitting down on the sofa of a Saturday night, you’re gonna want Claudia Winkleman being her kooky be-fringed self like a genuine oddball, but if you’re binging on Netflix there’s just no beating a bit of Christina Applegate or Maria Bamford. The sketch game is ruled by Queen Maya Rudolph, and there are plenty of “straight” actors who are as funny as professional comedians, like Melissa McCarthy, Emma Thompson and Olivia Colman to name but a few. And for God’s sake we haven’t yet mentioned all the genius stand-ups like Katherine Ryan, Aisling Bea, Sarah Millican and Susan Calman… Oh, and men, too. Some men are funny.

Frisky and Mannish

But if you’re forcing us at gunpoint to do a Sophie’s Choice here, then we’re feeling a bit nostalgic at the moment so we’re gonna pay tribute to one of our formative influences - the inimitable Eddie Izzard. In our opinion he combines two of the very best things: knife-sharp intelligence, and true true silliness. He’s fanciful, but thoughtful, yet often clownish, and also frequently politically engaged. And then there’s his style of delivery. His shows are more like a mind map than an monologue. There is a myriad of possibilities for each flight of fancy. It’s so enjoyable to watch someone be so spontaneous, as if each thought is genuinely occurring to him in that moment. He’s basically a comedy free-runner, leaping and bounding in unusual ingenious ways from idea to idea in his giant brain.

We’re also massive fans of a strong aesthetic, as anyone who’s seen any of our previous shows will know. Androgynous outfits, dramatic eye makeup, playing fast and loose along the queer spectrum - but never particularly drawing attention to it. Just standing on stage looking fierce and fabulous, as if that’s a perfectly normal way to look all the time, and then getting down to the business of entertainment. While we favour musical entertainment in our own shows, we also love a bit of the physical, and his particular brand of off-hand mime, casual clown and the casting of James Mason in as many roles as possible is really quite unique. It feels effortless and unforced, but also extremely well-observed and precise.

And if we can get pseudo-political for just a wee second, when you think about the success he’s enjoyed while flagrantly flouting society’s unchallenged norms, you have got to admire his sheer boldness. In the great tradition of Quentin Crisp, Boy George and Julian Clary, Eddie’s way of existing makes a powerful statement and we are here for it.

So there you have it - Eddie Izzard is concrete proof that men can be funny too.