Eddie Izzard Makes Laughter the Universal Language on His New Tour

Eddie Izzard believes humor is universal, and he’s out to prove it. The British comedian’s mammoth tour, Force Majeure, is taking his surreal stand-up to 25 countries, and he’s performed in four languages — English, French, German and a bit of Spanish. He aims to try Russian and Arabic too, before it’s over.

Is German too serious a language? Are the French funny? Izzard, who’s had a big American audience since his 1999 breakthrough with the stand-up DVD Dress to Kill, shakes off any questions about differences in humor. Punch lines translate better than you’d think, he said during his trilingual interview with Cleveland Magazine. He performs at the Palace Theatre at Playhouse Square May 30.

CM: How do American and British audiences respond to your humor differently?

EI: They’re exactly the same, actually. And also are Russian audiences, and Turkish audiences, and German audiences, even in different languages.

My theory on comedy is, it’s human. There is a mainstream sense of humor in every country. An American comedian would make jokes about football stars, basketball stars, people in politics, and it would all be American references. The British comedians would do British references, and the Russians the same.

What the more alternative comedians do — I’m talking about human sacrifice, medieval kings, squirrels with guns, and [how] everyone used to smoke pipes, and where did they go to? You used to look very wise when you did it! I make sure my stuff is universal.

CM: Why did you decide to perform in three languages in Normandy on the 70th anniversary of D-Day? (Vous pouvez répondre en anglais ou en français, comme vous voulez.)

EI: Ah, excellent! Mon idée était … (In French: My idea was to go there, stop the American tour to go to Caen. If I’m going to be there, why not do a show? A show in English, a show in French, two shows for charity, Doctors Without Borders maybe, and Help For Heroes in England. German too. A salute to the people who were in the war for the Allies, but also for Germany since ’45. I think Germany is a very strong, courageous country with good politics, with democracy.)

La troisième millénaire, trois shows, trois langues en trois heures. (The third millennium, three shows, three languages, three hours.)

CM: Merci. English speakers tend to think of German as very serious sounding language. How does humor go over in German?

EI: It goes over exactly the same. I thought it’d be tricky, because past tenses, they have the verb at the end.

I have this joke in English: Did Caesar ever think he’d end up as a salad? In German it goes, Caesar hätte je gedacht — did he ever think — dass er — that he — ein auf Salat Ende würde? — salad end up would?

[I thought,] you can’t do a three-word punch line! But as long as it trips off your tongue — auf Salat Ende würde? — they laugh.

My audience is a kind of open-minded, progressive — they have been students, they will be students — that’s the people who get it. They get it in every country. They get it in Moscow. They get it in Berlin. They get it in German, or in English or in French or in Spanish. It’s the same around the world, which is a great thing to know. We are all the same.

CM: I saw you’re part of the campaign against Scottish independence. Can humor help the cause?

EI: I’m campaigning to say, “Scotland, please don’t go. Please stay part of the union with the rest of the United Kingdom.” Some Scottish people were really pissed off that I did that, but I thought it needed to be said, because the atmosphere was encouraging people not to stand up and speak their mind. I don’t think humor is the one that’s going to make decisions. I think it’ll be a very serious thing.

CM: Americans have a stereotype: Are the French funny? They like Jerry Lewis, and we don’t think Jerry Lewis is funny anymore. So tell me about French humor.

EI: The first number of Jerry Lewis films were really funny. Then maybe it got into a formula and went off the boil. It could be that France just saw those early ones or the best of, like in Britain we see the best of American comedy. We don’t see anything that doesn’t work, anything that was mid-level or not so good.

The French have as good a sense of humor [as anyone]. In Paris they have 500 comedy shows every night, 800 on weekends — sometimes really small ones. They just throw out a hat.

CM: Is it easier or harder to joke about Catholicism now that Pope Francis is in the Vatican?

EI: It’s probably easier. I like the new guy. I wanted someone who’s going to be more human, against the riches of the Vatican, try to help the poor.

The fact that the previous pope has just said, “F--- it! I’m out of here” ... He’s, I think, living in the Vatican, but in one of the back rooms. Doing what? What’s he do every day? Smoking big cigars? Watching cartoons in his underpants? Or what? Eating Cheetos? I just wonder. It’s a bit quiet on the media front. The Vatican has locked that down.

CM: Why did you call your tour Force Majeure?

EI: Now that I’m touring in different languages, I just thought I’d come up with a title that’s used in both languages. Force majeure is used in all contracts in America and Britain. It means act of God or force of nature. I don’t believe in a God, so I go for force of nature. I think we all need to be our own forces of nature in order to get through life and do the things we’d like to do. So I encourage people to be a force majeure.

Buon appetito

   I recently had the pleasure of sharing lunch with Scott Kuhn at Cibrèo Italian Kitchen, his brand new restaurant in PlayhouseSquare.Visibly proud and excited about this new venture, he makes clear this is a project he's personally passionate about, an expression of his love for Tuscany and its food, which he first discovered 10 years ago on a trip there.

   Before we sat down to eat I got a guided tour of the sprawling space. The bar and two dining areas look out onto Euclid Avenue, but the decor puts them worlds away. All the visual tropes of the medieval Italian town, such as stucco and stone arches, wooden wine barrels, a fireplace and rusticated furnishings, are present in abundance. Kuhn chose all the materials himself.  Adjacent to this, on the other side of a set of closed doors at the far end of the bar, is a large, completely separate and utterly unique private event room. The space, still being renovated when I saw it, is the former 14th Street Theatre. The original columns and ornate decorative plasterwork are being refurbished. There's a small stage and a connecting passageway to a full bar with its own street entrance on  East 14th Street. Kuhn tells me that taking on this part of the building wasn't in his original plan, but once he saw it and realized its potential it was a challenge he couldn't resist. It's obvious the almost 37 year old likes a challenge  as he currently oversees a multifaceted organization of seven restaurants (with another fast food joint called Rothschild Farms on the way right around the corner from Cibrèo,) a catering company and a food truck.

   With good smells wafting from the kitchen and the clock approaching noon, I was ready for some table time. I let my host do the ordering. First up was an excellent bean soup, rich and thick with a hint of spice, made with Porcini mushrooms and bits of sausage. Next we had a fine risotto funghi, made with vegetable stock, and served with shaved truffles in a traditional clay cooking pot. Over delicious plates of pasta carbonara, revved up with guanciale and and radicchio, and pappardelle bolognese, Kuhn explained the process of creating the menu.

"I wanted to re-create dishes I've had in Tuscany," Kuhn says. "A year ago I started working with our corporate chef, Chris Johnson, our executive chef here, Eric Martinez, and our consulting chef, Chris Hodgson, to bring those culinary experiences to our customers. We developed our concepts, practice the execution and now we're ready."

  There are a few familiar Italian-American favorites on the menu, because that's what some customers want: lasagna, veal Parmigiano, fried calamari, as well as the requisite steaks, salmon and scallops. But much of what's on offer will be more authentic. pasta in a boar and Porcini ragu; spaghetti with pesto and potatoes called Cinque Terra; and one of Kuhn's favorites, orrechiette Sienna style with rapini, pine nuts, and Parmesan broth; and porchetta with polenta. I'm eager to taste my way through much of the antipasto, insalata, risotto and gnocchi, pastas and secondos sections of the menu. The mostly Italian wine list has much that's appealing too, and I'm intrigued by the six prosecco cocktails.

   Everything tells me this will be a place people want to dine, whether they're coming downtown to see a show in one of PlayhouseSquare's gorgeous theaters or just looking for a very good Italian meal.

Let Us Eat Cake

There’s something sweet cooking across the street from our offices, and it smells like Yellowcake. The clothing and accessories line by Project Runway Season 8 contestant Valerie Mayen is opening as a pop-up shop in PlayhouseSquare at 1603 Euclid Ave.

Mayen, one of our 2011 Most Interesting People, says her colorful designs with unique silhouettes and details suit various women: “I’m had soccer moms in Kansas City buy my pieces and Vietnamese fashionistas in New York. I’ve sold to indie retro girls in London and army wives in Kuwait.” And, of course, there’s been no shortage of love from Clevelanders.

The Yellowcake shop is on ice for now as tonight’s looming winter storm has pushed the opening to Friday afternoon. But Mayen let us in for a taste of what she’s serving. Here’s a sample of our favorite items.

Beth’s pick

Fabric pom pom, small: $8 or two for $15, large: $14 or two for $26

I love the color of these fun little (and some not-so-little) outfit embellishers, especially this time of year when we could all use a bright pop in our lives (the two-tone pink and purple is my favorite). Different hardware on the backs of each pom pom means you can opt to clip one in your hair or add one to an outfit or purse for a little extra pizzazz.

Kim’s pick

Hat, $44

I've recently become obsessed with hats. Maybe I've watched too many episodes of Mary Tyler Moore with her iconic hat tossing. I've been on the hunt for a new hat to make that transition into spring, and this one will do the trick.

Carly’s pick

Luxe coat, $288 (marked down from $388 for the pop-up shop)

If you’re like me and see a whole lot of black when you look in your closet, this lightweight pink coat might be just the piece you need to make your look pop. The belted style is Yellowcake’s best-seller and is the first Mayen made for the line. Although the Luxe coat comes in many colors, this pink stands out in the shop and is sure to do so on the street as well.

The Yellowcake shop opening on Friday at 4 p.m. includes appetizers from Bricco, so get there early to snack while you browse. On Saturday, the shop will likely be open noon-10 p.m. Sunday is still up in the air, so call 216-236-4073 to check hours. Downtown Cleveland Alliance has more information about hours, but note: The shop is only open until the 13th, so get your slice of Mayen’s fashions while you can.

The Plain Dealer's Phillip Morris is Pulitzer finalist

We've been Phillip Morris fans since the days when his fresh take on our town was buried inside The Plain Dealer's editorial pages.

So we named Morris one of our Most Interesting People in 2008 when his column was moved to the Metro page and his common-sense opinions reached a wider audience. Obviously, we couldn't get enough of the guy and included him in our February 2009 feature, Singles File, as one of our 20 Sexy Singles. Now, Morris adds another honor to his resume: He was named a 2010 Pulitzer Prize finalist for commentary on Monday.

Beyond the print journalism awards that the Pulitzer Prize is most commonly associated with, Cleveland also achieved some recognition in other categories:

Perfectly timed with our April article honoring National Poetry Month, Ashland University faculty member Angie Estes was honored as a poetry finalist for her book Tryst.

The Cleveland Chamber Music Society was given the privilege to host the first performance of Fred Lerdahl’s String Quartet No. 3 in December 2009, which was named a finalist in the only music category.

And thanks to Playhouse Square’s 2010-2011 Broadway Series, Clevelanders will get a chance to see Pulitzer Prize winning drama Next to Normal in June 2011.

Check out the rest of the 2010 winners and finalists here.

The inauguration as seen from Playhouse Square

I should have known better than to show up at the Palace Theater’s viewing of the inauguration of Barack Obama only 20 minutes before he was to take the stage. I took my place among a row of other recent arrivals who were standing at the back and dutifully texting their friends stuck at the office to say, “Yeah, it’s packed.” Even though only Sen. Feinstein was speaking, no one had a moment to give me a comment; I felt like someone being shushed for talking through the previews.

Aretha Franklin earned cheers from the Palace crowd, twice; so did new Vice President Joe Biden, even though no one (except those in the back) listened when Sen. Feinstein asked the crowd in Washington to stand. The Palace audience sure stood, though, when Obama was announced. Stood, and cheered, thunderously, hands clapping high in the air, then listened breathlessly as Obama repeated the oath, and Chief Justice Roberts’ little gaffe over the first line faded quickly into the background as he concluded, “Congratulations, Mr. President.”

I did manage to talk to a few people after President Obama finished his address — such as C. J. Carter of Cleveland, who works at the juvenile court and brought a group of teenagers from the court's “day report program” to the Palace for the event.

“As a kid, I was forced to watch the inauguration of President Kennedy, and I remember it to this day,” Carter said. “I wanted to give these kids the same experience. It's like castor oil; it's good for them, whether they like it or not.”

James Heidmann, 13, of Solon, admitted that his mom had brought him downtown to watch the event even though it was a school day.

“We couldn’t miss a chance like this,” he said. “It’s amazing.”

Sixteen-month-old Jill Tennant of Lakewood probably wins the award for youngest viewer at the Palace. Maybe in a few years, her big brother Owen, 4, will tell her about it.

“Who was inaugurated president today?” asked Owen’s mom, Jeri.

Owen, running around on the big marble staircase, stopped for a moment and looked up at me with as serious an expression as a four-year-old can muster.

“Barack Obama,” he said.

(Photo: Jeri, Owen, Jill and Tom Tennant)

Hanna Theater: 10 Days and Counting

Fences block off the sidewalk on East 14th, spilling over onto the street; a sign that the renovation of the Hanna Theater isn't just about making the inside look like 15 million bucks (see our previous post). The Hanna marquee was painted this week a vibrant purple and yellow, adding new life to a drab street of parking lots and garages. New lights are to go up on the marquee in the coming days too.

Tom Einhouse, VP of the PlayhouseSquare, says this is just the first step in renovating East 14 Street. Future plans according to Einhouse include widening the sidewalks (more space for the Hanna Deli patio) and adding brickwork as an extension of the Euclid Corridor project. I envision another East Fourth Street close to home!

And those fences I mentioned are scheduled to come down in just 10 days, when the Great Lakes Theater Festival is to take over the space. An electrician on his lunch break outside assures me that it will be done on time.

Hello Dahling

Nice juxtaposition, eh? A few of us at the office got a glimpse of the disemboweled innards of the Hanna Theatre today, and while she may not look like a million bucks just yet, Tom Einhouse assures us that when the Great Lakes Theater Festival takes over the space in three short weeks, she'll be all cleaned up and looking like 15 million bucks — the cost of the renovations and upgrades. Einhouse, VP of the PlayhouseSquare real estate group, is clearly tickled about one upgrade in particular: He pointed out the future location of full-service bars that will overlook the stage, thus providing patrons with the option of watching, oh, say, King Lear, while kicking back with a brewski. It's going to usher in a brand new day for the theater. Look for Macbeth to open on the stage Sept. 24.
*Photo courtesy of Greg Terepka

Update as promised

Some vendors are now up and running. Ingenuity officially starts in 9 minutes.

My aforementioned coffee break may now be a funnel cake break...

Balloons? Check.

The Ingenuity Festival starts today at Playhouse Square. Last year was a mess with the Euclid Corridor Transportation Project bringing torn-up streets and orange barrels. This year...well, it's still a little bit of a mess. But less so. Here's a photo from a few minutes ago. Since the Cleveland Magazine World Headquarters is 20 feet from the Ingenuity Fest, I'll keep an eye on any major updates during my coffee breaks.