"I'm trying to stay on the edge forever," says Eddie Izzard. And in a career that's encompassed multiple stand-up specials, numerous television and film roles, a Tony Award nomination and seemingly indefatigable activism, fundraising and political campaigning, she's doing a healthy job of it. Now, she's once again trying something new — by trying something a little older.
In her current comedy tour The Remix, launching in Nashville in September, Izzard revisits and reimagines the classic routines from her 35 year career. "In stand-up, we quite often don't ever go to the old hits," she told me on "Salon Talks." "It's almost a little bit biographical. This is me going back and doing some of the things that people may not know so well, but also remixing them." For example, she explained, "Death Star Canteen" will be in there, but Darth Vader has to say different things. Otherwise, I just lose it."
