Μaia Tassalini’s I Was 22 and Stunning: A Review

Instagram: @Maiatassalini,

poster by @junkmail & @maisybanks

★★★★☆

Stepping into Bunker 3 at The Pleasance Courtyard, the intimate space had been glamorously camped out in pink glitter fringe doorways, a lavish faux fur (safe assumption) rug, and shiny everything. After her intro song, the similarly decorated Maia Tassalini slipped out from her pink “backstage,” admitting she was just a moment late since she’d been applying gloss. 

With her freshly touched-up lips matching her mysteriously shrouded backdrop, later revealed to be a Monica Lewinsky shrine (!), Tassalini jumped straight into a best dressed contest with the crowd, which of course, she would win. Tassalini’s comfort and confidence on stage is apparent. Charismatic from the jump, she took the small space in stride and by the end, she was on a first name basis with most of the room, seamlessly blending easy crowd work whenever she glanced toward her own notes. 

Tassalini knows her strengths, and knows how to play to them. Her origin tales as a “one-night-stand baby” are fresh, with her storytelling setting her apart not only from the other kids she grew up with, but also from other comedians. She also avoids the pitfalls that they often fall into—her comedy isn’t vying for shock factor, hyper-sexualisation, or taking cheap shots for offence. Tassalini doesn’t need to trick or bait an audience into listening to her. It’s just obvious that they should be. 

Comfortably wry, sparklingly dry, and really quite witty, Tassalini’s comedy is irresistible. At her best when jumping between her own personal stories of growing up and her fascination with Monica Lewinsky (which began when an older drag queen told her she resembled the former intern), the still-stunning, formerly 22 year-old has created a truly tight show. Well worth the watch, the wait, and the ticket. Before you get used to hearing this tired phrase: go see her before she’s huge, because Maia Tassalini certainly will be. 

Elena Cebulash