IS THAT ALL THERE IS?
I had an opportunity this Spring to attend a performance by a celebrity at the Escondido Center for the Arts, a facility which demonstrates the importance of the Arts to its citizenry. The above sprawling complex features an elaborate Concert Hall, a smaller theatre venue, a museum and a series of buildings offering possibilities for community involvement. Impressive…really! The show was ALAN CUMMING: LEGAL IMMIGRANT. And no, that’s not “all there is”.
Yes, that happens to be one of the classic cabaret songs that Mr. Cumming interprets during
the evening. In his own distinctive style, he handles a varied array of tunes including a Scottish song, some made famous by Adele and Liza Minelli, a Sondheim medley (“Losing My Mind”/”Old Friends”/”Not While I’m Around”) and some representative selections from the Kander & Ebb catalogue (e.g. THE VISIT). My first experience with this man was in the Broadway revival of CABARET
for which he won a host of awards. On this stage, though, he fronts an accomplished combo of four musicians.
Cabaret singer is not all there is with Alan Cumming. Most audience members would be familiar with his TV work in “The Good Wife” or other TV series and guest appearances. Actually, this singer/actor struts his stuff in other ways as well, including the following: provocateur, engaging storyteller, Scottish patriot, United States patriot, comedian and immigrant advocate.
Some of his stories prove to be quite memorable. The subjects themselves demonstrate a probing mind not afraid to go anywhere. Here are a few of them: Guns on the TV set, Botox/Scrotox, Jessica Lange’s boobs, Sean Connery, Cheesy songs from Mariano, Molly’s placenta, Aging scrotum and more. Most affecting is his description of his naturalization ceremony when he became a U.S.citizen.
The title of the show, though, proudly identifies him as a “Legal Immigrant”. From his perspective, he quite clearly frowns on his new country’s abandonment of its immigration past. Why, for example, does the ICE website no longer proclaim that we are a nation of “immigrants”? Also, he points out the misinformation that seems to follow any exploration of the issues.
So proud that the Escondido Center for the Arts hosted this stop on the Alan Cumming national tour of the LEGAL IMMIGRANT show. I look forward to visiting Club Cumming in Manhattan on my next visit to NYC. Surprising the knowledge that emerges after an evening in the theatre.
