Cumming’s ‘full fashion cabaret’ at the Key West Theater March 1
BY TERRY SCHMIDA
Famed actor, singer, novelist and social activist Alan Cumming will perform what he calls a “full fashion cabaret” at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 1 at the Key West Theater, 512 Eaton St.
“It’s going to be a wide variety of songs,” the 52-year-old native of Scotland said over the phone from his home in New York City. “Sort of a smorgasbord style; a full fashion cabaret. I’ll be singing songs with a small band that I really connect with, and you’ll find out much more about me than you ever wanted to know. It’s a very old-fashioned form. In Scotland, we do that a lot more, I think. It’s the kind of thing I grew up with.”
Cumming has enjoyed an extremely varied career in a number of disciplines, but is perhaps best known for his roles in “The Good Wife,” and as the host of “Masterpiece Theatre” on PBS. He’s also acted in everything from James Bond films, to “Cabaret,” on Broadway. His novel, “Tommy’s Tale,” was published in 2002.
“I’ve always kind of done everything,” Cumming said. “But if I had a gun to my head and had to choose a favorite, I’d have to choose performing in the theater. I really enjoy the connection with the audience that I get with theater, and with my musical performances.”
Though he attended drama school from an early age, Cumming professes to have few influences on his performance style.
“Nobody really influenced me as an actor,” he said. “I just did it because I enjoyed it. I enjoy a wide variety of composers and musical styles. Eclecticism is my biggest ideology. There’s so much out there that it seems silly to let one person or style own you. I try to keep my heart and mind open”
Not surprisingly, Cumming’s inventive work has received many accolades over the years. He’s received Primetime Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, and Golden Globe awards over the years. In 2009 he was granted the coveted Order of the British Empire, from Queen Elizabeth II.
But it’s the recognitions he’s received for his work for LGBT rights groups that Cumming is most proud of.
“To me, those are much more important than the ones I’ve received for my acting,” he said. “The awards for humanitarianism, the Matthew Shepard Foundation, and from other LGBT organizations that I’ve received for speaking out, are what I’m most proud of.”
Accordingly, Cumming is not pleased with the current political climate in his adopted country.
“I’m absolutely horrified and embarrassed with the way things are turning out,” he said. “I think that we’re living in a really dangerous time. [President Donald Trump] is unstable and surrounded by people who are fascist.”
Cumming’s upcoming performance in the Southernmost City won’t be his first. He’s visited several times before, for work, and play. When he’s done here, it’s back to work.
“I’m shooting a pilot for a new CBS series, so I’m hoping to be back on the telly by September,” he said. “I’m also working on a book. I’ll have a lot of traveling coming up soon.”
The show must go on.
Tickets for Alan Cumming’s March 1 show at the Key West Theater cost $85-$100, and are available at http://www.thekeywesttheater.com/.
For more information, call 305-985-0433.
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