The self-styled Scottish elf trapped in a middle-aged man’s body describes the horror of living in Trump’s America.

I love the word “sappy”. Why did you choose it for the title of your cabaret show Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs? 

I chose the word “sappy” because “sappy” to me means sentimental and emotional in a good way, and in Scotland we use it in a sort of an affectionate way. You call someone a big sap if they’re, you know, getting a little weepy-eyed. But also, it’s got a humour in it. I think it signals to the audience that the show is going to be both emotionally charged but also have some fun and laughs.

I believe the show was inspired by Club Cumming. Can you tell us about that?

Club Cumming happened when I went back to Cabaret on Broadway in 2014 for a year, and basically I was so horrified by the idea of shooting The Good Wife and doing Cabaret at the same time and having no life, and no fun, that I kind of made my dressing room at Studio 54 into a club and we called it Club Cumming. We had a big neon sign saying...