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.
Do you know that all this time, I never thought twice about his last name? Now that is all I will think of when I see him...
ReplyDeleteDid you mean THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Miss Bitch! I can use an editor for sure. Theanks for your keen eye, thanks to you the correction has been made.
ReplyDeleteLove him in "Titus" and he is so very good on "The Good Wife" (but then, everyone on that show is amazing).
ReplyDeleteYou may be tired of hearing it, but damn I love your blog.
ReplyDeleteI only recently discovered him through The Good Wife. He's very good in the show. Although he does it with an American accent (and a very convincing one... I didn't realized he was Scottish until later). And I'm a pushover for a Scot accent! :)
ReplyDeleteFunny, Sexy and totally talented he is one of my favorites. We saw him in The Seagull a couple of seasons ago.
ReplyDeleteOh, that fragrance is hilarious! (I wonder what it smells like...)
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of "The Good Wife, but I did see an episode with Alan Cumming and he was NOT Alan Cumming, which for me says a lot about his skill as an actor.
kabuki knows of your predeliction for impish scamps and reminds you to keep your hands to yourself.
ReplyDeleteI do love Cumming! Jx
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