Cross dresser to play Macbeth

LONDON, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Cross-dressing comic Eddie Izzard is slated to star in "Macbeth" in New York in 2006, Daily Variety reports.

The British comedian who wowed critics on Broadway last season in "A Day in the Death of Joe Egg" also wants his co-star Victoria Hamilton in the Peter Nichols' revival to play Lady Macbeth.

The comedian was nominated for a Tony for his Roundabout Theater performance last spring. No producers or director have been named for the venture. Laurence Boswell was the director for "Joe Egg."

This will be Izzard's first attempt at Shakespeare, though he appeared in Marlowe's "Edward II" at the Haymarket in Leicester, north of London, some years ago.

Recent "Macbeth" productions in New York and London have not met with success, with Kelsey Grammer, Rufus Sewell and Sean Bean each getting poor reviews.

In an obvious pairing, Izzard hopes one day to do "The Rocky Horror Show."