Cabaret review: Club Cumming

In addition to his own prodigious talent, Alan Cumming will be calling in favours from guest artists and – if opening night was anything to go by – it’ll be huge.

Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2021. Alan Cumming at Club Cumming. Picture: David Wilkinson

Alan Cummings’ nightly Club Cumming gig in the Famous Spiegeltent is sure to become the hot ticket in this year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

In addition to his own prodigious talent, he’ll be calling in favours from the daily round, and if opening night was anything to go by, it’ll be huge.

Starting a tidy 45 minutes late – the Gala ran an hour overtime – Cummings wandered unannounced on stage for the first of many sets spinning the decks, and the dance floor (no chairs at this gig) quickly filled.

The promos speak of live performances and hedonistic delights. If the latter were thin on the

ground, the former were top shelf.

Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna man Isaac Hannam gave a Welcome to Country topped off with a burst on yidaki (didgeridoo), seguing brilliantly into Cummings’ electrifying performance of Strouse’s But Alive.

A royal fanfare flooded the tent, and in swept Her Majesty, ably supported by Gerry Connolly.

Bob Downe and Willsy were there in matching gold numbers, Walking Right Back into the ’60s with the Everly Brothers. Liza Minnelli (expansively assisted by Trevor Ashley) was another sea of sequins, and then there was the inimitable Hans and his fetching go-go boys.

As the clock ticked over 1am, the strains of Kander and Ebb’s classic Cabaret filled the night. That’s what it’s all about.

Club Cumming

The Famous Spiegeltent

June 11 to 26