An enlightening and often funny hour of manic gay-diva obsession and coming-out antics Rating
Good
For the uninitiated, the title of this solo show – A Stan Is Born – is not a typo. For those who don’t know (and writer and performer Alexis Sakellaris explains it perfectly in their exposition) a “stan” is a hybrid stalker/fan; that is to say a fan that verges on the obsessive. The term was supposedly coined after the Eminem song.
It’s a strong starting point for a show like this, introducing and exploring obsessive fan behaviour. Sakellaris’ own obsession is with the classic divas of Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion (and more). They had me on board at the outset when, after inviting the audience to respond to a list of divas, those who were fans of Taylor Swift were hastily and hilariously dismissed. On top of this, Sakellaris layers the show with their personal coming-out journey, which they do tenderly and openly. After growing up in New York to Greek immigrant parents, they were hastily supplanted to rural Germany at the age of eight, which is where our story starts; as does their obsession with divas.
Sakellaris clearly has a consummate knowledge of the necessary subject matter (as do I, I was surprised to learn!) resulting in some gently funny moments and surprising insights. Sakellaris is a warm and engaging stage presence, but somewhat manic (they go off-piste at one point and ADHD was mentioned). For uninitiated audience members, a slower pace would help demonstrate and explore the funny side of gay-adored divas, making the show more inclusive and accessible to a wider audience. It does feel, in its current form, as if audience members require substantial pre-knowledge in order to get the most out of the production.
The literature for the show promises ten songs, but, as is explained during the performance, this is a cut down version, running at about an hour and featuring only five or so. Although the songs are the highlights, providing well-paced emotional cadences to the monologue, a ten-song show might feel a bit indulgent and the current structure probably works best. That said, Sakellaris is clearly very musical, playing piano and singing with a lovely voice that’s easy and a pleasure to listen to, with really clear enunciation. I’m a fan of comedic numbers generally but the songs sometimes become repetitive. Digging deeper into the subject matter might reduce this tendency.
One of the wonderful qualities of this show is how at ease Sakellaris is in this format. I’ve seen it billed as a musical but it’s essentially a one-person musical cabaret monologue. While there is clearly a script, the essence of the show runs through their blood and so they are able to speak to the audience freely, comment, make asides, get sidetracked and still keep the show going with enough energy and momentum. They seem more than at ease in that environment and it’s a pleasure to spend time in the presence of someone who feels connected to the present moment with the audience in this way.
After this short run at The Other Palace, Sakellaris will take the show on tour to America and Australia. It’s easy to see how, with their international background and the show’s universal themes, it should travel well. It’s a lovely warm hug of a show that has space to evolve further.
Written by Alexis Sakellaris
Directed by Madison Cole
Dramaturg by Alex Jackson
Musical Supervision by Cerys McKenna
Produced by Alexis Sakellaris
A Stan is Born plays at The Other Palace until Saturday 17 January.
