Words: Elodie Marriott
Image: Matthew Murph

4 stars

Featuring spicy scenes, innumerable innuendos, and Connor Storrie’s critique on Katy Perry’s lyricism, Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody is bold as puck. 

The musical is wildly hyperbolic, with every explicit pun being as unsubtle as a biscuit to the chest. Shane is presented as the campest twink in Canada, sashaying away to show tunes on the peloton, where as Ilya’s brooding is a direct consequence of him struggling with the burden of having a huge bum: “Big ass, cold heart, I’ll play my part~”

Not even the fans of this ice hockey romance are safe from playful ridicule, as Stanley Cup-loving Susan and her middle-aged posse of women also named Susan represent the viewership of the tv adaptation. The parodic versions of the characters work best when small details are enhanced to an absurd degree: Kip’s coworker who only seems able to say “gurl…” and the fierceness of Shane’s mum: “When I lose, I sleep outside”.

With catchy tunes and impressive vocals (‘Eye F-cking at the Hotel Gym’ will no doubt be playing in your mind upon a rewatch of the original), Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody spoofs the hell out of the slow burn sensation.

Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody
Underbelly at Underbelly, George Square
19.50
5-30 Aug