Heated Rivalry - The Unauthorized Musical Parody Review: an absolute ball... or two!
13 October 2026 | 19:00 | Underbelly Boulevard Soho, London
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | PR - Invite
I'm coming to the cottage! A sentence that no-one expected would break the internet last November. If you like the sound of its hockey-inspired choreography and very tight shorts, Heated Rivalry - The Unauthorized Musical Parody might just be the show for you! Written and composed by the mind behind Pop Off, Michelangelo! (Dylan MarcAurele) and directed by Alan Kliffer, it's apparent from its audience and pre-show music that we are in for a camp ol' time.
Based on the 2019 novel Game Changer by Rachel Reid, Heated Rivalry is an adaptation that follows two hockey hot-shots Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, both destined for greatness, whose heat on the ice is just as potent behind closed doors. They must face struggles to win big in the hockey world, as well as the off-ice challenges in their relationships and sexuality.
Jacob Tierney's TV series exploded onto our screens in November 2025, and has gained an international cult following averaging 10.6 million viewers per episode in the US alone. It's much anticipated second series airs in early 2027, it's this queer generation's equivalent of waiting for the next series of RuPaul's Drag Race. Since then, Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Parody Musical has amassed an impressive Off-Broadway run, an Edinburgh Festival Fringe stint and finally, blessing us with its presence in London's gay capital: Soho.
Right from the 'face-off' we meet Susan (May Tether), our narrator for the evening. Musical number What We Want opens the show with a trio of Susan's, all of whom hate their husbands and love their Stanley cups (filled to the brim with a Xanax Margarita!), each watching glorified gay porn whilst their husbands sleep soundly upstairs.
We understand from here that audiences are in for a fast paced and absolutely ridiculous retelling of the six-part series, skipping the unimportant details and focusing on fan-favourite moments. The lens through which this story is told is an incredibly smart narrative device, especially for those with no prior context on the story, with our hammy narrator popping back to keep us in the loop when needed.
MarcAurele's songs are catchy, witty and well arranged in gorgeous harmony, the only downside being the sound mix in Underbelly Boulevard Soho's auditorium, which is unbalanced at times. It must be acknowledged that Sully Ross' set design is less than desirable, which is likely running on a low budget given its fringe origins. Although where it lacks in production, and given the leniency of parody, the actors make up for this with gut-busting gags.
The cast are an incredible ensemble of five, with Zheng Xi Yong (American Psycho, Your Lie In April) taking on the role of geeky Shane Hollander, and Joseph Dann in his professional stage debut as the effortlessly cool Ilya Rozanov.
The cast is completed by May Tether, Andrew Berlin and Sylvie Stenson, each of whom take on the mammoth task of playing every other character in this universe, doing so with comedy-chops galore, a silly new accent and positively terrible wigs! This trio truly steal the show, along with one audience member who is selected to play the role of Scott Hunter. Presented with a ring binder and banana upon entering the stage, this cameo is perfectly suited to the evening's style.
As this 70 minute, one-act show flies before our eyes, we are treated to all the iconic moments. Gym Song steals my favourite scene of the night - think camp Peloton bike choreo with lots of intense 'eye fucking' - followed closely by the hilariously sincere Big Ass, Cold Heart. The entire show is filled to the brim with innuendo, musical theatre pastiches and Drag Race slander, all of which are staged with precision by Kliffer.
This incredibly silly, outrageous show has everything you could want from a musical about gay hockey players: a montage of gay sex, puppets, hockey stick-ography, a heap of queer joy and most importantly... rip away pants! While some production elements are lacking, the show is remarkably self aware, and we as an audience are in on the joke. Heated Rivalry - The Unauthorized Musical Parody is an utterly fabulous, feel good gay extravaganza! The perfect tonic to the depressing reality of 2026 so far.
Playing at Underbelly Boulevard Soho, London until the 1st November (recommended 16+): https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/heated-rivalry-the-unauthorized-musical-parody/
