A Stan is Born! continues at Blether at Gilded Balloon Patter House until 25 August 2025.
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
Once we get the definition of STAN (diva obsession) out of the way, we’re off on a bright, tuneful and very enjoyable hour in the company of Super-Stan, Alexis Sakellaris.
What are you gonna do, at eight years old, when your parents transplant you from NYC to nowheresville Germany? Well, if you’re Sakellaris, you’ll turn to divas for distraction. The Celine in his brain saw him through. Suddenly he realised he was an eight-year-old boy trapped in a fan-girl’s body and once unleashed, there was no stopping him.
Everyone you’ve ever stanned over is here, a delicious directory of divas.
The original songs celebrate ‘stanhood’ and are touchstones to what’s in his head as he grows up and tries to make sense of not fitting into the school football crowd – for wanting to play with girls when he ‘should’ be playing with boys and later wanting to play with boys when he ‘should’ be playing with girls. A journey many gay men will have had to navigate.
But in Sakellaris’ hands, it’s funny, bright and energetic. And the divas keep tumbling out of him. Mariah is ter-RIFF-ic. If you’ve ever liked a diva a little tooooo much, this show is for you. You’ll be in good company. In all his long-haired glory, Alexis Sakellaris is out-STAN-ding.
Steven Wren
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