Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody! musical review – Joy-filled pride
The hockey sensation is sent-up and celebrated in this good-natured musical
One of several Heated Rivalry-inspired Fringe shows this year, Quick And Funny Musicals version is a joyful, earnest and good-spirited take on Jacob Tierney’s queer TV classic. Complete with a sizeable ensemble, it packs an impressive amount into its one-hour runtime, even managing to make room for a solo number by a fictional intimacy coordinator and a redemption song for the show’s Bechdel Test-failing female characters. Musically, these are the strongest numbers, showing a higher degree of creativity than repeated hooks such as ‘it’s hot on the ice’ and ‘fuck him up the butt’.
The cast sell every line, successfully homing in on the memorable oddities of the show’s characters. Vocals and comedic timing are strong too, particularly from the actors playing Hollander’s father and our two leading men. Thanks to innovative staging and physical comedy techniques, scenes with Hollander and Rosanov on cross trainers and in athletic sex positions have the crowd cracking up (pun fully intended). Scott and Kip’s fan-favourite love story also features (their meet-cute number ‘Off Recipe’ is another highlight), with that kiss eliciting an aptly huge cheer from tonight’s audience who, regardless of their age or circumstances, are all waving pride flags by the end of the show.
Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody!, Gilded Balloon Patter House, until 30 August, 7.45pm; picture: Blake Eirmann.