L-R Alan Cummings & Ari Shapiro – Courtesy of Emilio Madrid. Courtesy of Emilio Madrid.
It was a hybrid of storytelling and cabaret, unlike any act I’ve ever witnessed, but one thing is certain, “Alan Cumming and Ari Shapiro: Och and Oy! A Considered Cabaret” seen Thursday night at The Cabaret was an evening of unabashed, irreverent fun. The source of all the mirth was the unlikely duo of Scottish stage, television, and film actor-singer Alan Cumming, and radio journalist Ari Shapiro, a rotating host of NPR’s “All Things Considered,” who also performs occasionally with the band “Pink Martini,” also based in his hometown of Portland.
It was with great anticipation that I looked forward to seeing the two perform together. I have followed Cumming’s career since seeing him play the emcee in the 1998 Broadway revival of “Cabaret” and his 2015 appearance at the Cabaret at the Columbia Club. As far as Shapiro, a die-hard fan of all things NPR, I listen to the erudite journalist regularly while driving my car.
There was more chatter than songs in the show that would sound great on radio, which is, of course, Shapiro’s forte. In fact, within the first 45 minutes, there were only three songs performed and the rest was stand-up humor. And though the stories told throughout the show by 57-year-old Cumming, a true raconteur, and Shapiro, 43, a seasoned reporter. were sometimes on the longish side, they were hilarious. And given the fact that both performers are gay and share a lot of their LGTBQ+ experiences, a great deal would be considered subversive and X-rated by folks of the right-wing persuasion, including people in Florida who support the recently passed so-called “Don’t Say Gay” education law. Cumming and Shapiro’s show would surely cause their heads to explode.
While the show appeared to be completely spontaneous it was actually scripted, yet all the pair’s stories sounded as if they were off the cuff, and that was the beauty of the format. Displaying an obvious affection for one another, the two exhibited an easy camaraderie and rapport.
L-R Alan Cummings & Ari Shapiro – Courtesy of Emilio Madrid. Used with permission.
Topics covered by the impish Cumming and the droll Shapiro included stories about their individual coming-out experiences, their weddings, and Shapiro’s experiences as a journalist, covering news all over the world. Cumming also shared titillating tales about celebrities he has known or worked with, including Sir Ian McKellen, Liza Minnelli, Kristin Chenoweth and Chita Rivera.
Accompanied by pianist Henry Koperski, the devilish duo only sang a total of eight songs during their 95-minute show, with no intermission. While I enjoyed the stories, they could have used some editing. Actually, I would have preferred hearing more songs from the artists, who both possess appealing, warm baritone voices. But ultimately, it was quality over quantity in a setlist that included Bette Midler’s “Laughing Matters,” Kristin Chenoweth’s “Taylor, the Latte Boy,” “Happy Days Are Here Again/Get Happy,” a duet made famous in a late-60s TV special by Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand, and “Nowadays” from the musical “Chicago.”
At a time when the spectrum of homophobia is rearing its ugly head again, as evidenced by the previously mentioned Florida anti-gay legislation, it was refreshing to experience Cumming and Shapiro speak their truth through humor, while being their authentic selves. Observing them on stage together wasn’t just highly entertaining, it was simply liberating. If theirs is not a fearless political act, I don’t know what is.
