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When Eddie Izzard took on the role of America's arguably most irreverent, expletive prone and nihilistic stand up comic, Lenny Bruce, it was ineveitable the end result would be controversial. But an unfortunate incident in a preview performance of the forthcoming play, Lenny, has teetered on the brink of the pornographic. For izzard, I learn, became affected by some of the more graphic sex scenes and added a rather unplanned authenticity to his performance. Lenny, which opens next Monday at the Queen's Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue, is in preview, but select audiences have already been subjected to Eddie's over enthusiastic acting. For while part of the first act consists of a simulated sex scene between Izzard and his statuesque co-star Elizabeth Berkley, who are both naked, transvestite Eddie became, in one preview It cased quite a stir," remarked an eye witness at last Friday's performance. "I imagine Eddie couldn't really help it - Elizabeth is a very beautiful girl - but one does wonder whether the incident will occur every night". Izzard, who publicly cross-dresses, is also a notable heterosexual and has described himself as a 'lesbian trapped in a male body'. Berkley, the star of striptease flick 'Showfirls' remaine remarkably unfazed by her co-stars unintentional method acting. A source close to the production , however, reassures me that any such activity is not intended. 'It is not part of the performance although there is some nudity. It is a hard hitting comedy' I am told. |