Expect the unexpected from theater and film celeb, Scotsman Alan Cumming, a dynamo of emotions with superior story-telling skills. “I thought I’d start with something I know the words to,” says he after opening with “Mein Herr” from Cabaret. (He won the Tony Award for his portrayal of The Emcee in that show.) Witty and engaging stories roll effortlessly off his tongue, like the one about the time he participated on a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the music and noise momentarily ceasing and the only word heard coming from him was “masturbation”—a lyric from the song “Next to Me” co-written with Musical Director Lance Horne. Macy's had negelcted to preview the three songs from his CD selected to play during the parade.

He’s openly gay, a strong proponent of equal rights and sings same-sex love songs (“What More Can I Say?” from Falsettos by William Finn). Emotional characterization was presented in a medley of “Wig in a Box”/“Wicked Little Town” (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), and preceded by a story of his chaste meeting with the character’s original creator, John Cameron Mitchell. “Taylor, the Latte Boy” got a new spin on the “extra foam.” He speaks quickly, breathlessly, and the Scottish brogue sometimes makes it difficult to catch every word. What he says appears to be unscripted. Ballads like “All the Best” and “Losing My Mind” are almost whispered, with the feeling there’s a great churning beneath the surface.

Suffice it to say the encore, “Beautiful,” preceded by “You’re so f--kin’ beautiful,” with the lyric’s very frequent use of the same four letter word, may not sit right with everyone. When I asked him why he chose to become an American citizen, his reply was, “Because I wanted to vote for Obama.”

Yair Evnine was on cello. Alan is at Feinstein's through May 1 and returns June 22-26.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
April 27, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org