Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs

Alan Cumming has had a glittering career that has seen him conquer the West End, Broadway, Hollywood and TV. So why now is he touring a concert of “Sappy Songs”? The answer for those of us attending was immediately obvious, because he is good, very good, and of course because he can. Accompanied by piano, cello and drums he took us on a journey of moving music and stories and hilarious show biz anecdotes. Musically the two sets were wide ranging from show tunes to pop hits, Kurt Weill to Miley Cyrus, who would have thought it?

Cumming has a great voice too, a powerful voice that can belt out a number but also sweet enough to handle the gentlest of songs. He also sings the entire set with his delightful soft Scottish accent, barely a trace of pop style Americana in his diction, except for the comedy highlight of the evening when he delivers his Trojan condom ad!

Joined for two numbers by the excellent Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus, this was an evening of pure delight, one you can hear as he has recorded the whole.

8 October

Dome Concert Hall

Andrew Kay

5 stars