Alan Cumming
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Theatregoers are happy as clams to have Alan Cumming back on the boards. The beloved Scottish actor, fresh off of his return to Broadway in The Threepenny Opera, is now back in London to star as Max in the West End revival of Martin Sherman’s groundbreaking play Bent. Trained at the Scottish Royal Academy of Music and Drama, Cumming also appeared on the New York stage in Jean Genet's Elle, which he also adapted, as well as Design for Living and Cabaret, for which he won the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards among others. In London he has appeared in Hamlet at the Donmar Warehouse (for which he won the TMA Best Actor Award and a Shakespeare Globe nomination), Cabaret (Olivier award nomination), La Bete (Olivier nomination), Conquest of the South Pole (Olivier nomination) and seasons with the RSC and the Royal National Theatre, where he won an Olivier Award for his performance in Accidental Death of an Anarchist (which he also co-adapted). So why are theatre fans so happy to have Cumming back on the stage? Because he has spent a huge chunk of time away doing extensive film work, including X-Men 2, the Spy Kids trilogy, Eyes Wide Shut, Emma, Urbania, Nicholas Nickleby, Titus, Goldeneye and Circle of Friends. A jack of all trades, Cumming recently directed and starred in the drama Suffering Man’s Charity. He also wrote, directed, produced and acted in The Anniversary Party, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won a National Board of Review Award and two Independent Spirit Award nominations. Newer film work includes Full Grown Men, Neverwas and Bam Bam and Celeste, Gray Matters and Sweet Land. It’s exhausting just reading his list of achievements, isn’t it? Never one to let his fans down, Cumming is now take your questions, so go ahead and ask him a question!
From Evan: You seem to play a lot of the darker roles. Do you prefer that type of character?
Alan responds: I suppose I am quite drawn to the dark side! Darker roles are usually more complex and challenging to play, and I get bored of acting if it's too easy. In Bent, not only do we gradually find out about Max's darker side, but also a lot of very dark things happen to him. So it's a dark overload!
Alan Cumming in Bent
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From Andrew Shaw: I saw the first preview of Bent and was hugely impressed by the production and particularly your amazing performance. How do you think you will cope with the run as far as physical endurance and just the overwhelming sadness of the second act? Do you think it will be hard to keep going in the play night after night?
Alan responds: The play is sort of a rollercoaster. Once the lights go down there is just no break in Max's journey till the curtain call. So I don't worry about not getting through it, though I am obviously very concerned about how draining it will be cumulatively, both physically and emotionally. I thought long and hard before agreeing to do it because of this very reason. It is incredibly arduous, and I don't think anyone could do it and not be affected in some way. So I am keeping tabs on myself, and making sure I have lots of fun after each show, as this is not a play you want to take home in your head. I've also got my boyfriend and my dogs over from New York so that I feel as stable and looked after as possible. And I am going to make sure I eat!
From Bebe: Hi Alan. You kissed so many people on stage during performances of Threepenny. Did you ever catch a cold from all of that kissing?
Alan responds: No, miraculously I missed all the colds that went around. Sometimes if one of the people I kissed had a cold then we would do neck nuzzling, and sometimes Cyndi Lauper would come into my dressing room and say "no tongues tonight." But I was fine. Thanks for your concern.
From Audrey: What happened to the role of Nightcrawler in X3? If memory serves, you were under contract to play that character in two films. Will Nightcrawler play a role in any of the rumored X-Men spin-offs?
Alan responds: The studio had an option on me which means if they wanted me to be in the third film, then I had to do it. But ultimately with changing directors and scripts and budgets my character wasn't in it and so neither was I. As for spin-offs, I am not holding my breath.
From Tracey Wilson: I love The L Word. Did you enjoy being part of the show and what are the cast really like? Thanks!
Alan responds: I had great fun on The L Word, and actually I did my stint in it because suddenly I was free because of the X-Men option not being picked up! The girls are really great. It's kind of a funny show because there are so many main characters and so you tend to only see the group who are in your story strand. So mostly I worked with Pam Grier and Daniella Sea, who is the new girl and absolutely gorgeous. We had to do a few (very explicit) sex scenes and they were fun and relaxed because we were comfortable with each other. I bet there aren't many actors in the West End who can say they have done sex scenes with a lesbian.
From Hannah Boyd: What is your favorite colour?
Alan responds: Yellow. I had my dressing room painted bright yellow. I love it. It makes me happy.
Chris New, Ricky Champ
& Alan Cumming in Bent
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From Tic Pupper: What's your Bent co-star like? Is he as sexy and exciting as everyone says?
Alan responds: Ahhh, what can I say about Chris New? He is indeed sexy and exciting, and it is an honour to share the stage with one so young yet so wise and so brilliant. We even have funny names for each other. He calls me Tic (which stands for top international co-star), and I call him Puppy because that is what he is. Oh wait, the name of the person who sent in this question sounds remarkably similar to those names. It couldn't be Chris himself, could it? Bad puppy!
From Jeffrey: In what ways is Bent more or less challenging than Threepenny Opera?
Alan responds: The Threepenny Opera was really challenging vocally for me. Even though I have done a few musicals I still don’t think of myself as a singer, and I have certainly never sung anything as complex and challenging as Weill's music. It's also challenging because it isn't really a play or a musical in the form that an audience today is used to, so the shifts in style and narrative were hard to negotiate. Bent is more of a challenge emotionally and physically. In a way though, you just let it all happen to you and the play does the work for you. Mostly I am concerned with my stamina, that's the biggest challenge.
From Clive Rudge: Hi Alan. You've obviously done a lot of both, but which do you prefer to act in: theatre, film or television?
Alan responds: I like to mix and match. Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.
From Mariana: First let me tell you that you are one of my favourite actors. What I wanna know is: How you can describe your character in Bent?
Alan responds: Max comes from a wealthy family, but they have rejected him because of his sexuality. He also lives in a place (Berlin) where he can be openly gay, but in a country that is changing politically and being gay is about to be outlawed. He is one of those gay men that believes that love isn't something that happens between men. He is also a player, a rogue, a bit of a shit. Then suddenly his circumstances change and so does he.
From Ian Darcy: Alan, I'm a drama student. Is there any advice you can give me? I'm a huge fan of your work, and I also think you're so hot.
Alan responds: I think the best advice to any young actor is to be yourself. So many people in the industry will try to change you or make you fit a mould or a type or try to tell you what to say and how to behave. Never forget that the most interesting thing about yourself is you—your experience, your opinions, your voice, your hotness. (Thanks, Ian.)
From Diana: Besides location, what is the difference between working in London and NYC? Which one do you like better?
Alan responds: There are less taxis and the restaurants close earlier here. Those are the two things i am noticing most right now! I am really enjoying being back in London after so long. Both cities have great theatre going on and people are passionate about their work. I like both. I am really enjoying hanging out with the Bent boys and rediscovering London through them.
From Tess Riley: What made you decide to take the role in Bent?
Alan responds: I was all set to have the summer off and then go and do a film, but when I got the offer, I just changed all my plans. It is the most brilliant play because it affects its audience in a way that is so visceral—all an artist could ever wish to do. It combines poetry with absolute rawness and shocking reality. I couldn't miss out on this experience.
From Jen: Dear Alan, I saw you on Broadway in The Threepenny Opera and have to say that it was absolutely fab! Too bad that there is no recording of that production. Will we see you in the near future in a musical production again? Are there any shows or projects you like to do?
Alan responds: I think after Bent I'll need a big rest, so I doubt I'll be singing for a while. As for the future I am kind of interested in doing Richard III. I also want to go and do a play with the National Theatre of Scotland. They are a new company and very exciting. Check them out!