Alan Cumming / Angela Lansbury
Alan Cumming and Angela Lansbury, two of Broadway's most iconic performers, are celebrated in a Fresh Air retrospective ahead of the 79th Tony Awards. Cumming reflects on his transformative role as the Emcee in Cabaret—revived three times across his career—revealing how the character’s evolution mirrors his own aging and the shifting cultural weight of the show’s themes. He discusses the show’s chilling commentary on how oppression creeps in subtly, making audiences complicit, and shares candid insights into his bisexuality, which he publicly embraced during the 1998 Broadway revival, turning a personal revelation into a powerful cultural moment. Lansbury, meanwhile, recounts her unforgettable portrayal of Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, describing the character as a darkly comic, morally fluid accomplice whose charm and amorality make her both terrifying and beloved. She reveals how Stephen Sondheim personally guided her through the role at the piano, and how she crafted a performance that balanced cruelty with warmth, turning a murderous pie shop into a metaphor for survival in a broken world. Together, their stories illuminate how theater can be both a mirror and a weapon—reflecting societal fears while also challenging them with audacity and artistry.
The Emcee in Cabaret is not just a performer but a puppeteer of audience complicity, guiding viewers into a world where hedonism masks the rise of fascism.
Alan Cumming’s 2014 Cabaret revival is darker than earlier versions because he’s older and the role has become a prison—his character never escaped the Kit Kat Club.
Cumming came out as bisexual during the 1998 Cabaret revival, turning a personal truth into a public act of power and control over narrative.
Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd is a masterclass in moral ambiguity: she’s a murderer, yet her warmth and childlike joy make her impossible to hate.
Stephen Sondheim personally taught Angela Lansbury the songs at the piano, including the intricate physical comedy of 'The Worst Pies in London'.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Rise of Online Horror: Backrooms and Obsession
The episode opens with a discussion of the unexpected box office success of two low-budget horror films—Backrooms and Obsession—both directed by young YouTubers. These films, rooted in internet culture, are redefining genre expectations.
Celebrating Tony Legends: Angela Lansbury and Alan Cumming
“I'm 49 and so I'll be 50 in January, January 27th next year. And so in my 50th year I am singing and dancing in a Broadway musical, and I'm dancing a kick line with girls who are 24.”
Alan Cumming’s Cabaret Revival: A Journey Through Time
“The Rent Boy turned MC in this kind of seedy club at age 28 is different from that same character at age 49 because that character hasn't made it out of that club. He's still there at age 49.”
The Emcee as Puppeteer: Power, Seduction, and Complicity
“He's going, come on, come on. You know you want to. It's going to be fun. And then of course—they become complicit in the whole horror.”
Coming Out as a Strategic Act: Cumming’s Bisexuality and the 1998 Cabaret Revival
“It was all a huge press campaign. A massive Machiavellian plot. That's the point of sexuality, actually. Power.”
“And the thing about the birthday is that I'm 49 and so I'll be 50 in January, January 27th next year. And so in my 50th year I am singing and dancing. in a Broadway musical, and I'm dancing a kick line with girls who are 24.”
“It was all a huge press campaign. A massive Machiavellian plot. That's the point of sexuality, actually. Power.”
“You know, the Rent Boy turned MC in this kind of seedy club at age 28 is different from that same character at age 49 because that character hasn't made it out of that club. He's still there at age 49.”
Host
Guests
alan cumming
person
angela lansbury
person
fresh air
media
taylor gross
person
stephen sondheim
person
npr
organization
the tony awards
other
sam mendes
person
backrooms
media
liza minnelli
person
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