Hannah Harte reviews Stoned N Unfiltered: Pop Divas Unleashed, at Little Andromeda, Friday 12 June 2026.
If you want to radiate joy for a few days, go to a drag show. You’ll encounter the most vocal, enthusiastic audiences that an often painfully stoic Ōtautahi crowd is capable of producing, loudly supporting what will always be a fantastic night of passionate performances. As an experimental musician, I’m not up to date with pop music beyond what I hear in supermarkets, but with the help of a sneaky Shazam or two I picked up Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Doja Cat, Cher and Elton John as performed by Te Waipounamu’s best and brightest Queens and Kings. Yuri Guaii, my favourite Aotearoa drag performer and a major drawcard, couldn’t be present due to “unforeseen circumstances” and I would be lying if I said her absence wasn’t keenly missed. Fortunately, Alexis Stoned, and last-minute addition Tōmairangi Paterson-Waaka (Boffa Deez Nuts) provided adequate balm to the wound.
The evening kicked off with a high-energy trio of Queens to get the pulse racing, followed by MC Tony Chestnut, sporting hairstyles from all four members of Abba and “ceramic genitals.” Tony is marvellous – witty, hilarious, subversive, able to riff off almost anything the crowd throws at him. Chestnut made the audience feel so comfortable that they became over-empowered, but he always managed to rein it in and give each Queen the introduction they deserved.
Ann Arki claimed Cher for the evening, with a wobbly live version of a classic Sony and Cher track, followed later by Believe, perfectly emulating the iconic singer in facial expression and costume, but with distinctly more energy than her chosen diva. Vex, presenting like a mixture of demonic Chappell Roan and Jane Don’t from a Rainer Werner Fassbinder film, was distinctly un-tucked for her Lady Gaga medleys, giving enviable tongue-ography. Vex is a striking Queen who delivered my favourite looks of the night, but suffered from a slightly stiff dancing style that needed a bit more bounce and hip swagger. The sensual, sultry and super femme Noah Lott became Sabrina Carpenter, giving us Anna Nicole Smith after a few of the notoriously well-filled Little Andromeda wines. A little clumsy, a little nervous, with undergarments peeping out to a degree that would have Queen of Drag RuPaul spluttering into her coffee enema, she nevertheless radiated absolute beauty with the best mug of the evening; Noah Lott was stamped.
I’m Still Standing, plus a mobility aid, performed by Austin Power Bottom, elicited a raucous response from many audience members who seemed familiar with the King, and the entire venue filled up with disparate voices passionately singing along to Elton John’s classic hit. Alexis Stoned, clearly a favourite of the drag scene, absolutely slayed her Ariana Grande sets, to rapturous applause by all, including an extremely proud partner and audience member (a silver-haired fox and doctor), who was great fun to be seated next to. Alexis is an incredible performer, with natural body tea, aka a derriere to write home about, and the physical stunts she pulled off on the tiny stage had my jaw on the floor. Her energy and charisma were radiant, bright as the sun shining after weeks of rain.
Boffa Deez Nuts stole the show in my opinion and had the audience wrapped around his finger, giving Doja Cat the house down BOOTS with superb dancing, choreography and floor work to die for. Mischievous, charismatic, and oozing pure, unrefined sex appeal, truly embodying CUNT (charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent), Boffa got my vote to go to the finale. I simply couldn’t sulk about Yuri’s absence after getting a blast of what Deez Nuts had on offer.
With some final, parting words from the brilliant Tony Chestnut, sporting a considerable amount of gravy dripping down his manly chest, one of the best nights of the year so far drew to a close, leaving us with faces aching from grinning and a warm glow to carry us off into the cold night. From now on, I would love to attend every drag night this city puts on.
Stoned N Unfiltered: Pop Divas was performed on Friday 12 June. If you want to know more about what the show’s producer, Alexis Stoned, is up to, her instagram is here.
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