By Tulis McCall

There is something to be said for two guys – Alan Cumming and Ari Shapiro – aided in no small part by their musical director Henry Koperski – having fun.  Just plain fun.  Serious fun. And the fact that they are multi-talented and very funny doesn’t hurt.  And the fact that they are, at heart,boys who love a competition of any sort – well that doesn’t hurt either.  Even if it is a foolish competition.   Which, come to think of it, most are.

What appears to be an odd couple – Scottish and Jewish.  Tall and not so tall.  One actor, one journalist.  Proves to be a smooth, sophisticated and stylish duo.  And of course, they are gay.  Not only gay, but happily so and eager to share every little detail they feel like sharing.  Funny how times change.

The evening is filled with anecdotes about coming out when each of them did (Cumming preceded Shapiro by a decade or so it seems) and about their weddings.  There are a lot of fascinating details to share.  Their music, however, takes second place to the anecdotes – and this is too bad because their music is bordering on sublime.

Shapiro’s rendition of “Laughing Matters” (Dick Gallagher / Mark Waldrop) that was written in 1998 and is, sadly, still appropriate.

… Problems with no answers
Hang on like some chronic cough
And every day some brand new issue
Rears it’s head to piss you off

…So take those blues
and bounce them off the wall.
Keep your humor please,
’cause don’t you know it times like these that
laughing matters most of all.

Cumming and Shapiro join forces in a simple and shattering duet of Ben Folds’ “The Luckiest”

And where was I before the dayThat I first saw your lovely face?Now I see it everydayAnd I know
That I amI amI amThe luckiest
And lest you get sucked into the schmaltz Cumming slips in a wise and light “Taylor The Latte Boy”
More talk as we wait for more music in the form of the Garland/Streisand duet “Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again.”
Alan’s motto is, “How can I keep having fun.”  Not for nothing but his nightclub “Club Cumming” came out of his dressing room at “Cabaret” which was its predecessor.

Shapiro gives us a nod to the Scottish referendum which he covered cor NPR by quoting from “The Morning After” written by Christine Deluca in 2014.

It’s those unseen things that bind us,
not flag or battle-weary turf or tartan.
There are dragons to slay whatever happens:
poverty, false pride, snobbery, sectarian
schisms still hovering. But there’s
nothing broken that’s not repairable.

Toss in a Scottish anthem (in English and Scottish) with a nod to the next referendum.

It all adds up to a lovely night that left me weepy more than once.  Something about two lads lifting their voices in love and song that grabs the heart – and may I put in my request for MORE song and less chat the next time.

There will be a next time, right???  In the mean time these two make sure we all know that “It’s good; it’s grand; it’s great; it’s swell.”

Alan Cumming and Ari Shapiro will present Och & Oy! A Considered Cabaret through April 15th at Café Carlyle at 8:45, with a late show at 11 pm on April 15th. Reservations HERE.

WEBSITES:  Alan Cumming and THIS is the Ari Shapiro