Review: Alan Cumming at Seattle's Town Hall is in a Word, Fabulous!

If you happened to be in the vicinity of The Town Hall in Seattle last night, and not fortunate enough to be inside, then you may have noticed that the atmosphere was a little cooler, a little sexier, a little more poignant and basically fabulous. Well that's due to the fact that outrageous star of stage and screen Alan Cumming was performing his "Alan Cumming Sings Happy Songs" cabaret to promote the album of the same name. We'll get to the album in a minute but first let's talk about what it was like to be in the presence of a genius showman.

If you've ever seen Alan Cumming in anything, and you might as well be living under a rock if you haven't, then you know there's just something a little dangerous about him. No, not like you're worried he's going to leap off the stage and accost you (unless you saw him in "Cabaret" on Broadway) but more along the lines of anything can happen. With that ever present mischievous little twinkle in his eye and impish grin you know that anything can and will come out of his mouth but no matter how raw or racy the topic, with that Scottish brogue it all feels OK. The show is a cornucopia of wonderful anecdotes from his life and career touching on everything from absent fathers to past loves and of course Liza. And all wrapped up in the sappy songs connected to each story.

But before you think you know what songs he might include well think again. The set ranged from standards, to Broadway to folk songs to Miley Cyrus. You heard me, Miley Cyrus. But all of it deftly delivered in a way that none of them felt out of place for the evening. Backed up by his musical director Lance Horne on piano, Eleanor Norton on cello, and Chris Jago on drums each number wraps you up like your favorite comfy blanket thanks to the stellar band and arrangements and Cumming's velvet smooth voice.

Now about the album. It's a recording of the stage show. Song for song, and somewhat word for word it's just what we experienced last night and that ain't a bad thing. If you weren't fortunate enough to be able to catch him live out on the road then this album is just what you need. And if you did catch him then here's the perfect reminder of your experience to relive again and again and trust me you'll want to relive it again.

But you may ask, "Why should I make the effort to catch the show when I can just sit at home and listen to the album?" Cumming himself posed that very question in the show. Well I think the answer is simple. You can look at a picture of a Picasso on your phone or you can experience the brilliance and wonder of it in person and actually connect with it. And it's that connection that makes it special which is why I give "Alan Cumming Sings Happy Songs" a fabulous YAY with my three letter rating system. So whether you know him from his work on Broadway or his stint on "The Good Wife" or from his many film appearances (he'll always be Nightcrawler to me) then you'll want to catch this show by any means available. And if you see him out and about after the show be sure to ask him to see where he had the tattoo removed.

Unfortunately "Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs" was in Seattle for only one night and I got the feeling it was the end of the tour. But for more information on future dates he might add or how to get the album visit them online at www.AlanCummingSingsSappySongs.com.

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