Puck Bunnies is a drag-infused, camp musical adaptation of the Netflix sensation Heated Rivalry. Featuring the characters the world has fallen in love with — but not quite as we originally came to know them — the show taps into the homoerotic nature of the series and turns it up tenfold! With hilarious, high-energy musical parodies scattered throughout, this show not only explores the importance of self-acceptance but also injects the perfect amount of queer joy!
I think it will genuinely come as a surprise to many people that I am one of the few people in the world who has never seen a single episode of Heated Rivalry (despite it being on my watch list for months), and so I did walk into this show completely blind. I was instantly on the edge of my seat, as I not only had no idea what would happen next but was also wondering if I would be able to follow the narrative as these fantastic musical numbers erupted on the stage. Despite the larger-than-life, outlandish moments and songs, it was very easy to follow along, which is an absolute credit to everyone involved in being able to portray a story while also bringing these eccentric characters to life. With all that in mind, this is absolutely a late-night show that is best enjoyed with a bit of a drink, so if you are looking for a high-energy, camp way to spend an evening, then this is the perfect show for you!
Headlined by the incredible duo of Kyra Brown and Christan Leonard (who also wrote the show itself), who remain constant in their over-the-top impersonations of both Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, the pair not only had the audience in hysterics throughout but also amplified the romantic tension at the beginning, only for this to erupt as the show progresses. My favourite performance throughout the entire show, however, was the incredible Capri Campeau, who brought to life both of the polar-opposite characters who are Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov’s love interests. This led to an insane sequence towards the end of the show where they are forced to play both roles at the same time, physically twisting their body (with their respective costumes) to capture both characters. It was equally mind-blowing and ridiculous, and flawlessly fitted into the show! My favourite musical number, however, came from the actors portraying the characters of Kip and Scott, who sing about how they believe ‘guys can be lesbians too’ after they, too, have formed somewhat of a relationship. This was a hilarious and fantastic celebration of the spectrum of queer relationships, which is amazing to see showcased in a drag musical and can only have a positive effect in the wider world!
In conclusion, Puck Bunnies is a queer celebration of one of the biggest shows to ever hit Netflix, crammed full of high-energy and camp musical numbers, making what is already a very inclusive show into a full-blown drag spectacular! Every single person in the cast poured everything into the show, which the audience clearly embraced as they remained fully engaged, cheering and singing along as the show progressed. This is a testament to how captivating every single one of the performers truly was. If this show is any indication of how much I would love Heated Rivalry, then I need to get watching it immediately! I would rate this show 4 out of 5 stars!
Rhysreviews 