Dressed to Impress: Eddie Izzard

EDDIE IZZARD's American accent and corporate attire on FX's "The Riches" are a far cry from his usual gig as a surreal British "executive transvestite" monologist in constant ADD mode.

Although his look is more bloke than bird for "Stripped" (his first tour in five years), he remains the go-to comedian for giving your attention span a workout. Not to mention your liberal arts degree: much of his material references Europe — "where the history comes from" as he drily noted in "Dress To Kill."

That 1998 show also provided his signature catchphrase "Cake or death?" as part of a routine about religious fundamentalism and the Church of England. (It's pointless to summarize; just watch it in full context on YouTube.)

Even if he didn't wear drag and reference the Spanish Inquisition on occasion, it'd be hard not to see the Monty Python influence in his absurdist talking points, which sometimes seem to exist only as buoys so he can free-associate for a while and then swim back towards shore. (John Cleese himself has called Izzard the "lost Python.")

It's a challenge for the listener, but consider that at heart it's the verbal equivalent of what many of us do online every day: hitting the back arrow repeatedly in a furious attempt to retrace our steps and remember what the heck we were doing before we got sidetracked.

Maybe Izzard is referencing this concept when he pulls up Wikipedia on his iPhone and reads entries to the audience. Or maybe it's for the same reason he does God in James Mason's voice: because he can.

» D.A.R. Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW; with Raheem DeVaughn, Thu. & Fri., 8 p.m., $50; 202-397-7328.