Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody at Underbelly Boulevard Review
Joseph Dann (L) and Zheng Xi Yong (R) in Heated Rivalry The Unauthorized Musical Parody. Photo: Matt Crockett
Tucked away behind the lower end of Shaftesbury Avenue, Soho’s Underbelly Boulevard has hosted some fantastic comedy, theatre and cabaret shows since opening its doors in 2023. Sadly its tenure is coming to an end in January 2027. But there are still a few more gems to catch before then.
The latest offering is a take on the hit TV series, Heated Rivalry, itself based on the Game Changers series of novels by Rachel Reid. The books are gay-themed romances set in the world of Major League ice hockey.
The first season of the TV adaptation focuses on the second book in Reid’s series and on Canadian Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Russian Ilya Rozanov (Conor Storrie), star players for rival teams who are involved in a long-term secret relationship.
With such a cult following, it’s an obvious target for parody. And to prove the point, London has played host to two such parodies this Autumn (see our review for Deep-Heat Rivalry at the Other Palace). Tonight’s comedy take on spice on ice was a hit off Broadway and at this summer’s Edinburgh Fringe. It’s packed with catchy original songs, tight shorts and more jokes than you can shake a (hockey) stick at.
Do you need to have watched the TV series in order to “get” the show? It certainly helps but no, it’s not essential. My guest for the evening hadn’t seen a single episode and only a few of the more niche jokes and references went over their head. It’s very well structured by writer Dylan MarcAurele so that it’s easy to follow the story (as yes, we’re all here for “the story”!) and the jokes are smutty, funny and land very well under the direction of Alan Kliffer.
The script is full of Easter Eggs for fans of the TV series, as well as plenty of pop culture jokes and references for the musical theatre fans in the audience with Rent, Gypsy and Hamilton proving particularly popular. There are some filthy jokes that generate gasps of shocked approval, it’s all excellently paced and pitched. The music is catchy with a musical theatre style. With songs like “Big Ass, Cold Heart” and “Shane Hollander, Slap that Stick”, it possibly won’t challenge for any Best Original Score awards but they’re all hugely entertaining and performed with great energy and some slick harmonies.
The story is framed by a narrator, Susan, played by May Tether in fine voice. She sets the scene by introducing us to her friends, also called Susan, and in the opening number makes it clear why the show appeals to its viewers (straight women!), “Gay hockey players with bit butts …”
She then takes us on a 70(ish) minute recap of the first season (which itself spanned eight years in just six episodes). The focus here is very much on a very camp and very funny retelling of the central love story, rather than touching on the bigger issues the full story covers, including homophobia in professional sport and the different experiences of young men in Russia and in the West.
There are references to both central characters’ difficult relationships with their parents but these are played for laughs rather than offering insight into any emotional trauma, and that’s as it should be as it works brilliantly within the piece.
Andrew Berlin and Sylvie Stenson play Ilya’s Dad and Shane’s Mom as well as other key characters from the series (but not Shane’s Dad, a very funny omission!). They both have fantastic comic timing and their vocals are clear and strong. No spoilers here but there’s a key character, whose subplot is touched upon, who is played by an audience member in a great bit of participation led by Berlin and Stenson.
The company o five work incredibly hard, moving bits of set around to create the various scene and switching characters with quick changes of costume – and accent. With a lot of the on screen story delivered in Russian or via text message, there’s a clever joke about sub-titles but fortunately it’s so clear that this time we don’t have to rewind to fully understand it!
Casting for the star roles of Hollander (Zheng Xi Yong) and Romanov (Joseph Dann) is spot on. They’re instantly recognisable as their characters, have great chemistry and presence and are both fantastic singers, committing with absolute seriousness to the often ridiculous lyrics they’re performing.
Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Parody is an unashamedly camp romp through the hit TV series. It’s a must see for fans of the ice hockey players with big butts as it’s packed with clever references to the on-screen version that inspired this (totally unauthorised) tribute. With great writing, direction and performances, it’ll send you home ready to re-watch Season One, full of anticipation for the rumoured Season Two, which will hopefully be equally ripe for musical parody. Because, as May Tether’s character tells us at the start of the show, we’re ALL Susan!
Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Pardy runs at Underbelly Boulevard until 1st November 2026.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Written by Penny for Theatre and Tonic, October 2026.