The Show
I think I've figured out the secret to Eddie Izzard's success, and I think he shares it with the art of Kabuki theater and clowns. His make-up, which draws focus to his eyes and mouth, amplifies their effect in his show, an important feature when he's playing to a big audience like the one filling the ridiculously-named Hammersmith Labatts Apollo on this DVD. His every move and sound seems calculated to draw laughs, and they do.

"Glorious" has all the hallmarks of a great Izzard performance, including his James Mason (as God) and Sean Connery (as Noah) imitations, his animal bits, jam and the informed history jokes. Among the hall-of-fame segments in "Glorious" are Noah and the baboon, his take on old women and death, technojoy and the office life of beekeepers (one of his all-time best.) He even dissects the death of Princess Di, comparing it to the sudden cancellation of your favorite TV show. I think it's safe to say there's nothing he couldn't make funny.

Being British, he runs the risk of his jokes being killed for U.S. fans by Anglo slang, but somehow he is able to sell a bit, no matter what. Even when he makes zero sense (as in the cake on Gran's head (something I've never understood)), the way he tells the joke makes it funny. For such an intellectual comic, at times, when he makes noises, I find it funnier than when he's telling biblical tales. His imitation of Noah sawing/punching a baboon slays me, despite it being such a simple bit.

Though he tells some very informed jokes, like his thoughts about the Trojan War, I think his comedy is very accessible, as long as you can look past the whole guy-in-make-up thing. It all depends how you like your comedy. Myself, I like my comedy the way I like my women…covered in bees!

The DVD
"Glorious" is a one-disc release, packed in a keepcase. An impressive 10-page booklet is included, with a lengthy article/interview with Izzard and a listing of chapter stops. A choice of English, Spanish and French menu options and subtitles opens the disc, followed by a nicely animated full-screen menu with chapter selections, subtitles and special features options. In a nice touch, the cursor is a spray of stars, fitting in with the show's style. Of the three recent Izzard discs, this is the best-designed DVD. The special features menu includes an option to choose a bleeped soundtrack that makes the show rather family friendly.

The Quality
The recent releases of Izzard's older shows, "Unrepeatable" and "Definite Article", were both in full-screen, and this disc is no different, which is odd, since "Glorious" is in letterboxed widescreen. Why not make it anamorphic? This is another dark background show, but Izzard's outfit is too, so there's not much in terms of color bleeding. There's also no evidence of any serious problems with the transfer. The audio is standard stand-up 2.0 stereo, which sounds as good as any comedy concert I've heard on DVD. The audience is audible, but not overwhelming; just as it should be.

The Extras
A 26-minute mockumentary, "Lust for Glorious" makes fun of Izzard's low profile in America by presenting the backstory of the movie-trailer start of "Glorious." Assisted by a team of image makers, Izzard films a high-octane revisionist history of his life, moving his birth place from Yemen to France, turning him into a womanizer and showing his skill as a stunt driver. Shot on a mix of film and video, this featurette looks better than the main show, and is quite funny to boot.

On a commentary recorded in 2004, Izzard looks back at the show from several years' distance, pointing out things he would change now, jokes he particularly enjoys and his memories of developing and performing the set. Relaxed yet involved, Izzard keeps the flow of the chat going for the most part, with plenty of things to say, keeping any silences to a minimum. A subtitle "Trivia Track" will add another angle to additional viewings, giving more information about the less-known subjects Izzard riffs on. It's great preparation for the next dinner party you attend.

The Bottom Line
"Glorious" is more representative of the Izzard his fans know and love, than "Definite Article" and "Unrepeatable," as Izzard has his look, pacing and style down cold. His now trademark focus on history is in full-effect in this show, as he delivers some of his most famous bits outside of "Dress to Kill." Combine the fantastic main feature with the included featurette, commentary and trivia track, and this is as easy a recommendation as I've had.

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*The Reviewer's Bias section is an attempt to help readers use the review to its best effect. By knowing where the reviewer's biases lie on the film's subject matter, one can read the review with the right mindset.