Review of the Sunday, October 25, 2026 evening performance at The Culture Club in New York City. Starring Jay Armstrong Johnson, Troy Iwata, Ryann Redmond, Shelby Acosta and Ryan Duncan. Book, music, lyrics and orchestrations by Dylan Marcaurele. Scenic design by Sully Ross. Costume design by Brendan McCann. Lighting design by Devin Cameron. Sound Design by German Martinez. Musical direction by Mateo Chavez Lewis. Choreography by Brooke and Tiffany Engen. Direction by Alan Kliffer. 85 minutes, no intermission.
If I had to make one complaint about Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody it is this: it goes by way too fast! That is only a bad thing inso much as its rapid-fire delivery is so fast, I worried that I might have missed something while I was laughing my head off. But it is also a great thing. Like any good parody (and this is a very good one), it knows when to go all in for the zing and when to pull back. That said, I am especially happy that I completed a re-watch of the TV series just a few days before seeing it. There are so many details - large and small - cascading off the tiny stage at The Culture Club, that trying to keep track of what is meant without being immediately recalled would have really bogged down my thinking. Frankly, half the fun of this is getting the jokes and moving along with it. After all, when you are watching a hockey game, you want to be able to keep your eye on the puck and the skilled players, right?
I won't belabor this review with too much analysis of Dylan Marcaurele's tuneful and hilarious score, as I think I covered that pretty well in my review of the cast recording (HERE), but I will say that familiarity with that ahead of time added to the experience without deminishing the surprises and cleverness of the whole thing. What isn't on the cast recording is his smart, witty and gleefully naughty book. It reminded me a lot of those old Carol Burnett Show sketches that made fun of soap operas and movies, with the inclusion of classic lines ("I'm coming to the cottage" almost got a standing ovation all by itself) and loving send ups of characters, settings and scenes.
Even while (rightfully) skewering the TV show's crazy time jumps, little bits of scenery (cleverly designed by Sully Ross) and costume pieces (amusing designs by Brendan McCann) made each scene and each character instantly recognizable. Not a moment is wasted on outright exposition. Of note, too, are the lighting and sound designs, by Devin Cameron and German Martinez respectively. Not only do they fit the piece perfectly, but they do wonders with what has to be a challenging space to work in.
Perhaps the most important part of executing such a complex (and simple) work as this is having a cast that is all on the same page with a full understanding of who they are sending up and respecting the source enough to make fun of it and love it at the same time. With the exception of one actor (and one unwitting audience member enlisted to play Scott Hunter) the cast plays several characters, often in the same scene - with just a wig change or something equally small. To make it work, one has to imagine the incredible amount of rehearsal it must have taken and appreciate how fresh and spontaneous it all feels.
Among Ryan Duncan's characters, he stands out as the old lady working out with Ilya and Shane at the Marriott gym, and as Ilya's sickly Russian father, bald cap and chest full of medals and all. Shelby Acosta (a favorite from Real Women Have Curves) nails the humorous ally-ship of Maria, Kip's smoothie shop co-worker, and practically brings down the house with a rich, villainous take on Shane's mother. Then there is the spot-on timing of our de facto narrator and guide, Susan, uproariously played by Ryann Redmond, with her singing to the rafters - what a riffer she is! - and her ability to use the audience's reactions as part of her patter, all while keeping the same audience from getting too out of control. She was delightful.
Of course, no treatment of Heated Rivalry would work without two actors that really get not only the ridiculous humor of Shane and Ilya, but also the heart and humanity of the pair as well. Simply, as funny and outrageous as their antics must be, there has to be some element of sincerity and love for the characters they are playing. The heightened reality of these men must be played, um, straight, for it to work. And this show has that and then some with the masterful portrayals of Jay Armstrong Johnson as Rozanov and Troy Iwata as Hollander.
Johnson's gorgeous voice gets ample opportunity to dazzle us - the same voice that tore up the role of Raoul in Phantom is on full display here. Who knew a power ballad about having a big ass could be so moving? His Russian accent is a riot, and his cheek mole is practically a character by itself. And yes, when he gets down to his skivvies, he is a sight to behold. The same can be said for Iwata, who is so disarmingly charming, you want to either pet him like a cuddly puppy or wrap your arms around him every time he makes an "unintentionally" dumb comment. Trust me when I say he is a genuine master of double entendre. And when he sings, you just feel warm all over. (His "I Can Host" is a small slice of musical comedy heaven.) But really and truly, the best part of the whole thing is the palpable chemistry and sexual tension between them. Sexy and sleek, they are the perfect pair.
The ads offer you a "pucking good time." They are not overselling it. Unauthorized or not, this a great night out. I wonder if they'll do a sequel for season two of the show. If they do, I am there!
📸: A. Ruffer, M. Murphy
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