A review of Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody, Fringe 2026

Coming into the Udderbelly (my first show inside the big cow this Fringe), I had an idea of what to expect both from parody musicals as a genre and Heated Rivalry as the source material. While this show is absolutely a combination of those two things, and it serves both mostly faithfully, its sum is orders of magnitude greater than and because of its parts.

This is one of the smartest, most memorable, and skillfully made parody musicals I can remember, and I had an absolute blast taking in the work of this immensely talented group of performers gifted with a real gem of a script and score.

The show, from top to bottom

Right away, one thing I appreciated about the show is that while folk who have seen/read the source material will find extra meaning and laughs throughout, one needs not be familiar with Heated Rivalry to enjoy or engage with the show.

From the first note, we are welcomed by characters who are essentially us, enthusiastic watchers ready to see and dissect the goings on between two particular Canadian and Russian ice hockey players, and all named Susan. This group of friends are led by May Tether who brings incredible vocal acrobatics and power, as well as a commanding and endearing stage presence.

Once into the world, we are treated to portrayals of Shane and Ilya that bring both comedy and drama through earnest performances and a deep willingness to lean into the ridiculous. Zheng Xi Yong showcases his balletic grace, dulcet notes, and unwavering enthusiasm as Shane Hollander, the bright-eyed Canadian. Joseph Dann offers both the self-assuredness and deep psychological angst that define Ilya Rozanov, paired with strong singing and physical comedy.

A selection of the other characters in the world are brought to life by the truly impressive Sylvie Stenson, and pinch hitter extraordinaire, Mateo Chavez Lewis. Each of the actors in the show shone in their featured roles, but also came together throughout to turn in an absolutely stellar ensemble performance.

Taking a second to talk about the music, I’ve been humming a number of the melodies of this show’s songs at random moments in the day, which speaks to the quality of writing going on here. There are many widely known and obscure musical references stitched through the show (Kerrigan and Lowdermilk alongside Lin Manuel Miranda), which only enriches the fun further and allows the theatre nerds to chuckle.

As for the book, it works cleverly in tandem with the music to move forward the story while allowing for as many jokes as can possibly be fit into this tight 70 minutes. At a couple points, the musical’s plot diverges from the source material, but it is effective within its context and serves the medium a bit more easily than verisimilitude might.

One other thing to note is that while the venue is solidly in three quarter thrust, and the staging does a good amount to ensure those sat in the side sections get nods and access to viewing the entirety of the show, there are some moments that will be difficult to see and some set/prop pieces that may be missed entirely from those particular points of view. A small misfortune, but ultimately forgivable, and not grave enough to take away from the experience as a whole.

Overall

While I have not seen the other concurrent productions of parody musicals based on the same property, I feel completely satisfied in my viewing experience of Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Parody Musical as a definitive entry for it. Laughs are near constant, the music is brilliant, and the performances are world class. And, for the sceptics, there is always the haphazard reference to sport. Which this musical is allegedly about.

Summary

In Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Parody Musical, hockey sticks meet high notes, and yearning is showcased through dance and zero count light cues. An absolutely superb company of actors bring to life our favourite rivaled lovers, aided by the merit of an incredibly strong score and witty book. With streamers, bananas, and many wigs, this show provides a sublimely fun and funny evening at the Fringe, not to be missed.