The Husband & I caught the film- The Anniversary Party the other evening while channel surfing & we decided to stay with it, although we had rented it years ago. One of the stars is Kevin Kline, one of the great loves of my life. But I kept riffing on the the career & personality of Alan Cumming. I was 1st aware of Cumming in 1998 through his Tony winning turn as the emcee in the Sam Mendes-Rob Marshall revival of Cabaret. He certainly seemed to be a very arresting figure when I saw him on the Tony Broadcast.
Cumming has played classical roles in an extremely eclectic career, including a very well received Hamlet in London, but his main image seems to be: naughty impish scamp, a persona that holds my interest. Cumming has done nothing to discourage this, playing a variety of louche characters: Dionysus, Mack the Knife, the Devil, in theater & film. He wrote a semiautobiographical novel-Tommy's Tale, about a sex obsessed, drug ridden bisexual; & starring in a provocative campaign promoting the fragrance line that bears his last name. I have yet to see the Good Wife, but I understand that he really bites into his role of Lawyer Eli Gold.
I downloaded his rather good album- Blue Car, with songs of love & loss by such songwriters as John Bucchino (A Catered Affair), William Finn (Falsettos) & pop singer Jimmy Webb as well as originals by Cumming himself with his musical director, Lance Horne. I am impressed with his non-theatre singing & his surprisingly touching interpretations.
I can be so very juvenile, I still giggle as I type his last name. Cumming lives in NYC with his husband, graphic artist Grant Shaffer, & their dogs- Honey & Leon.The couple dated for 2 years before entering into a civil partnership in Britain. Cumming and Shaffer married in NYC earlier this month, the 5th anniversary of their London wedding. Cumming turns 47 years old today.
Cumming is himself a Blogger. Check out his entertaining spot on the Internet.
Photo by David LaChapelle
I downloaded his rather good album- Blue Car, with songs of love & loss by such songwriters as John Bucchino (A Catered Affair), William Finn (Falsettos) & pop singer Jimmy Webb as well as originals by Cumming himself with his musical director, Lance Horne. I am impressed with his non-theatre singing & his surprisingly touching interpretations.
I can be so very juvenile, I still giggle as I type his last name. Cumming lives in NYC with his husband, graphic artist Grant Shaffer, & their dogs- Honey & Leon.The couple dated for 2 years before entering into a civil partnership in Britain. Cumming and Shaffer married in NYC earlier this month, the 5th anniversary of their London wedding. Cumming turns 47 years old today.
Cumming is himself a Blogger. Check out his entertaining spot on the Internet.
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