I went into MARVELous: The Risqué Parody in Brisbane expecting a bit of cheek. I did not expect to walk out thinking about Captain America’s… commitment to the bit for the rest of the week.
First things first, the show makes a running wink-wink point that this is a legally distinct universe, which is very funny given the characters are… not tweaked at all. Captain America is Captain America. Spider-Man is Spider-Man. They just keep reminding you they’re definitely, absolutely not affiliated, which somehow makes it even better. It’s not the whole joke, just a cheeky thread they pull on throughout.
The actual point is much more fun: this is what your superheroes get up to after dark. And turns out, not all heroes wear capes… some wear next to nothing at all. Occasionally less. It’s a lot.
Deadpool (aka Wade, aka The Mouth, aka chaos demon) is played by Samwise Holmes, who also directs and writes the show, and he is having the best time. He’s breaking the fourth wall, roasting the audience, stitching together what is essentially a series of character acts rather than one big plot. Which works, because it means everyone gets their moment to absolutely go off. And those moments? There are a lot.
There’s a Captain America number riffing on the whole “America’s Ass” thing that turns into this full musical parody situation, complete with very enthusiastic choreography and zero subtlety. There’s also a nostalgically chaotic Dirty Dancing homage with Cap and Bucky that goes off the rails in the best way, involving a shield that refuses to cooperate and a lot of near-misses in the modesty department.
The second Singin’ in the Rain starts, you can feel the room buzz because everyone knows exactly where this is going. Enter Spider-Man, channeling Tom Holland’s Lip Sync Battle moment with Rihanna’s Umbrella, and the crowd absolutely loses it. Fully feral.
The show is stacked with these hits. Big rock anthems, nostalgic pop that hits you right in the early 2000s, full boyband energy that feels both ironic and sincere. The aerial acts are a lot of fun and add that extra bit of spectacle, and the dancing that really lands. There are some seriously strong dancers in this cast — fully committed, precise, and bringing a level of commitment that lifts every number. It means even the most chaotic, tongue-in-cheek moments still feel intentional and properly executed.
And yes, if you’ve spent years watching Captain America and Bucky dance around each other thinking “please, for the love of God, just get it on already,” this show sees you. It hears you. It delivers.
We did clock a couple of tech hiccups on opening night, but for a touring show landing in a brand new city and theatre, it felt pretty understandable — and if past seasons are anything to go by, it’s gonna get tighter than Cap’s ass before you know it.
It also feels a little more pared back than some of the photos from seasons in other cities — fewer big set pieces, not as many elaborate backdrops — but that’s tour life. You’re fitting into whatever theatre you land in, and you can feel that a little here. That said, it never really leaves a gap. The cast come in with enough energy to fill the space (and then some), and the lighting team does a lot of the heavy lifting in shaping each moment. It ends up feeling intentional rather than lacking, which is no small feat.
MARVELous is cheeky without wearing out its welcome, self-aware without disappearing up its own metaphorical cape, and just a genuinely fun night out. You don’t have to be a Marvel superfan, but if you are, there’s an extra layer of delight in every reference, every song choice, every barely-there costume.
Go with friends. Go ready to laugh. Go prepared to question why you suddenly find yourself attracted to the idea of a Stucky romance (if somehow you weren’t already before).
WHAT: MARVELous: The Risque Parody
WHERE: Twelfth Night Theatre, Cintra Street, Bowen Hills.
WHEN: Until April 4, 2026
TICKETS: Get your tickets to the Brisbane season of MARVELous here.
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
