Review: ALAN CUMMING SINGS SAPPY SONGS Kicks Off Renée Flemming VOICES Series at the Kennedy Center

"Have a hanky ready!" Alan Cumming exclaimed at the beginning of what evolves into an emotional, entertaining, and engaging evening of cabaret. In the first show of the Renée Flemming VOICES Series at the Kennedy Center, Mr. Cumming, known for his role as the Emcee in Cabaret and Eli Gold in The Good Wife, took down the veil of his characters that separates him from his audience and dove deep into his own personal life.

Welcome to Club Cumming.

Cumming's cabaret combined heart wrenching and hilarious personal anecdotes with songs spanning from pop to Broadway melodies. Cumming's solo standouts included (but certainly not limited to): Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know," Billy Joel's "Goodnight Saigon," "Ladies Who Lunch" from the musical, Company, and Rufus Wainwright's "Dinner at Eight." The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C., led by Artistic Director Thea Kanom, joined Cumming on stage for a mash-up of Adele's "Someone Like You," Lady Gaga's "Edge of Glory," and Katy Perry's "Firework," as well as, an original song, "Last Day on Earth," written by Lance Horne, who is a staple of Cumming's on-stage band. The chorus complimented Cumming's voice and provided an extra layer of richness. Cumming's cabaret band, consisting of Eleanor Norton (cello), Chris Jago (guitar/drums), and Lance Horne (backup vocals/piano), burst with musicality during each song. The night wasn't just about the songs, but also the stories. Many of the songs sung by Cumming complimented the stories he told. Cumming is an excellent storyteller. No matter what the topic is, he manages to capture your attention and hold it in the palm of his hand.

The songs and stories surrounding his relationships with others resonate the most. One of those stories was about his grandfather, who served in the World War II and died in Malaysia under mysterious circumstances. After the story, Cumming transitioned into singing "Goodnight Saigon" as a dedication to veterans and his grandfather. Not only did Cumming address his lack of knowledge about his grandfather, but he spoke about his relationship with his father. This story was accompanied by the song, "Dinner at Eight," which tells of Rufus Wainwright's arguments with his father. Cumming noted that his circumstances are with his father are different from the ones addressed in the song, but it doesn't mean that the song made less of an impact. Cumming sang "Dinner at Eight" with everything he had and it clearly showed in the raw emotion coming from his voice through the song. His narratives aren't just melancholy; there are ones filled with laugh-out-loud moments. Take, for instance, Cumming's encounters with Lizza Minnelli. Cumming's rendition of a story about 16-year-old Liza's dance performance transitioned into his relationship with her as a fellow actor in show biz. He certainly has learned a thing or two from Liza. Although, Cumming doesn't stop at the professional relationships. He became candid about how he and an ex-boyfriend decided to get tattoos of each others' names. As the songs and stories progress, one doesn't want the night to end. But, alas it does. One thing is for certain - Alan Cumming isn't just "an actor who sings," but an actor and a singer.

On Saturday night, Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs was cabaret at its best.

Running time: 1 hour and 30 minutes with no intermission

Alan Cumming SINGS SAPPY SONGS took place at the Concert Hall in the Kennedy Center on April 30, 2017. For more information about upcoming shows in the Renée Flemming VOICES Series, please visit http://www.kennedy-center.org/.

Pictured: Alan Cumming, with a martini in hand, performs in Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs. Photo by Tre Inc.

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