Review: ALAN CUMMING SINGS SAPPY SONGS at Strathmore

As evidenced by the audience's reaction last night at Strathmore, Tony Award-winning actor-singer Alan Cumming has gained quite the following for his performance on CBS' The Good Wife, but his one-man cabaret show ALAN CUMMING SINGS SAPPY SONGS very much emphasized that he's an exceptionally versatile and dynamic live performer. Probably best known for his 1998 award-winning portrayal of the Emcee in Kander and Ebb's CABARET, he's also graced the stage in the short-lived Broadway revival of Brecht's THE THREEPENNY OPERA, as well as numerous other plays in the United States and his native Scotland. He took the adoring audience on a journey through some of the songs that he connects with the most - some of which he discovered during his return to the Broadway stage last year in Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of CABARET.

One has to give the man kudos for putting together a set list that was unlike any I've ever heard. In a single concert, one can experience an emotion-filled rendition of the Miley Cyrus' sappy hit "The Climb;" a deeply affecting and powerful rendition of "Good Night Saigon" sung in the memory of his grandfather; a clever arrangement featuring snippets of Lady Gaga's "Edge of Glory," Katy Perry's "Firework," and Adele's "Someone Like You;" a throwback to the early 2000s with Avril Lavigne's catchy "Complicated." Throw in a generous dose of Sondheim ("Ladies Who Lunch," and a unique arrangement of "Being Alive," "No One is Alone," and "Not While I'm Around," which highlighted the similarities between the songs), a bit of Kurt Weill ("How Do Humans Live" from THE THREEPENNY OPERA), and an exquisite rendition of "You, You, You" from THE VISIT (the last show Kander and Ebb wrote together), and you have only a fraction of the musical territory that Mr. Cumming covered with reckless abandon. An accomplished interpreter of lyrics, he showed off not only his powerful Broadway-ready voice, but the way that he can really connect with any song - in any genre or language ("Complainte de la Butte" was sung in its original French) - from a truthful emotional standpoint.

Whether it was the in-between song patter or the musical moments, Cumming proved exceptional at developing a personal connection with the audience. The bawdy, comical moments when he spoke of a tattoo he got during a short-lived, failed relationship or writing and performing in an an Internet condom commercial came off just as genuine and endearing as the moments when he spoke/sung about his challenging relationship with his father. Backed by three accomplished musicians, including his musical director/arranger/co-composer Lance Horne on piano, Cumming gave the audience a concert to remember.

Running Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes with no intermission.

Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs was presented at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland on February 14, 2016. For a list of Cumming's upcoming concert dates, consult his official website. For a list of upcoming Strathmore offerings, consult the venue's calendar.