A “Beyond Eclectic” Night at the Cabaret

Photo Courtesy of Connecticut College Arts Programing

On a Friday evening in a sold-out Palmer Auditorium, the last thing I expected to hear was a story about Alan Cumming and Sir Ian McKellen lounging together on a nude beach. Throughout the evening of Och and Oy! A Considered Cabaret, I came to expect the unexpected. A game of celebrity roulette, a brief history of the 2014 Scottish Referendum, and a heartfelt love ballad about a beautiful latte-making barista all made for a delightfully comedic and uplifting evening. Friday’s performance, starring Alan Cumming and Ari Shapiro, was their first of the year, although the two have been touring this show since its premiere in 2019.

Cumming is a longtime performer known for his time on The Good Wife and Tony award-winning role as Emcee on the Broadway musical Cabaret. He has also written six books, won a BAFTA, and is the co-owner of a cabaret club in New York City called Club Cumming. The two stars actually met in what they referred to as the original Club Cumming, which was just Cumming’s dressing room that he had retrofitted to include a full bar and neon sign. In an attempt to define his illustrious career, Cumming was described – much to his and his co-stars’ amusement – as “beyond eclectic” during the Q&A hosted before the show. 

Not to be outdone is his award-winning partner in crime, Ari Shapiro. Shapiro is a journalist and longtime host of NPR’s All Things Considered. He is the author of a New York Times bestselling memoir. He has covered wars, presidencies, and other major global events, yet still finds the time to sing with the band Pink Martini. His rendition of “Total Eclipse of the Heart” had the crowd waving their hands and left me wondering how many other serious reporters secretly possess an angelic voice.

You may ask yourself why a Broadway star teamed up with an NPR anchor to host a whimsical evening of song and dance in matching tuxedos. You’re not alone, as I was asking the same question. Long after the houselights had come on and the two stars were off to their next show in Indiana, I found myself contemplating what made this performance so unexpected yet so special. Maybe it was the insight into Alan Cummings’s time as a 16-year-old horoscope writer. Maybe it was Ari Shapiro’s heartfelt recitation of a Scottish poem titled “The Morning After” that claims “there’s nothing broken that’s not repairable.” Whatever it was, they had the audience laughing, singing, and, eventually, on their feet in a standing ovation.

Och & Oy! is a masterclass in intertwining comedy with personal, often emotional, stories. Nowhere was this delightful contrast more apparent than when Alan Cummings’s story of crowd surfing in a monkey suit in Edinburgh somehow beautifully segued to how the Marriage Equality Act impacted both their lives. The performance was threaded with their experiences of being a part of the LGBTQ+ community, with Cumming describing the show as “queer joy” and a “form of protest.” Although the two grew up in vastly different places – Cumming hails from Scotland, and Shapiro grew up in Portland, Oregon – their journeys are similar in that they have both turned to art and media to express their identities and leave their own personal mark on the world. An overarching theme of this show is the role art and creativity play in expanding people’s worldviews. In fact, when asked about their opinions on performing all over the country, Cumming said of the varying audiences that “their minds are going to be opened a little bit, and the world will be a better place” after they see the show.

Near the latter half of the performance, the suit jackets came off, revealing Cumming, Shapiro, and their pianist in sleeveless white button-downs, echoing a comment made earlier by Cumming that “life is the same show with different costumes.” I would describe Och & Oy! as a comedy-talk show interwoven with bursts of energy and color. Cumming and Shapiro’s relaxed demeanors and playful banter transformed the evening into what felt like a comfortable and joyful conversation with a close friend.

The local community truly showed up for this performance, creating a cheerful atmosphere inside the auditorium. The Athey Center for Performance and Research at Palmer Auditorium finished construction in 2022 and has transformed into a center for community gatherings. Hopefully, we will continue to see bonds between the New London community and the College strengthened through a shared love of performance.

This is a show that sticks with you. Almost a week later, I continued to think about how the two performers blended their different backgrounds and experiences to create something truly unique. Och & Oy! is a love letter to individuality, practically shouting from the rooftops that you shouldn’t be afraid to break free from the role you think you should play. Embrace being “beyond eclectic.” You never know where it may take you.