(Very loosely) based on the court case that amused and confused the nation, Gwyneth Goes Skiing takes audiences to 2016's Deer Valley Ski Resort, where Goop-founder and Hollywood actress, Gwyneth Paltrow's world collides (literally) into Dr. Terry Sanderson's; a moment that will bring them back together in court seven years later, in 2023.
Written and performed by Linus Karp (Gwyneth) and Joseph Martin (Terry), featuring original songs by Leland (RuPaul, Troye Sivan, Cher), with a special video appearance by Trixie Mattel as Blythe Danner (RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 3 winner), and the singing voices of Darren Criss (Glee, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story) as Terry Sanderson and Catherine Cohen (Edinburgh Comedy Award winner) as Gwyneth Paltrow, this critically acclaimed show transfers to Birmingham Hippodrome's Patrick Studio for just three days, opening Tuesday 29th October and closing Thursday 31st October.
Alongside the main cast, the audience plays a large role in this production from offering their suggestions of Goop-inspired lifestyle products ahead of the show’s opening to standing in as ‘supporting cast’ members. Moments of audience participation inject an element of spontaneity into the show, that both Linus and Joseph bounced off expertly and humorously. Rest assured, most of these supporting roles are assigned ahead of the show by a member of the production team who asks around for volunteers and hands out character cards, and these roles simply read their lines from the autocue. One role later in the show, however, is chosen at random from the audience, and on Tuesday 29th October, I was selected for this part. Being on stage and having to improv is not something I am usually comfortable doing but the camp, hilarious chaos of the show coupled with Linus and Joseph’s relaxed stage presence made it far easier than I was expecting.
Packed full of whimsical lipsyncs, Gwyneth wordplay puns, name-dropping, sight gags, and clever jokes, even the music played before the show opens and during the ‘Gwynterval’ features lyrics replaced for comedy value, parodying songs such as Kesha’s ‘Joy Ride’ with ‘Ski Ride’ and Lady Gaga singing ‘Don’t call my name… Gwyneth Paltrow'.
This hilariously high-camp and sharply silly show has very much been written by and for the ‘girls, gays, and theys’ with queer, pop culture references throughout – from brat summer to the final monologue set to Chappell Roan’s ‘Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl’ – and I imagine that over time, these references have been updated and changed in keeping with whatever chronically-online references are currently relevant. Very cutesy, very mindful, very ludicrous, very funny.
With a running time of approximately 1hr 40 (including the interval), Gwyneth Goes Skiing is a short, fast-paced, farcical affair. Join “harbingers of queer chaos”, Awkward Productions (Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story) in this absurd, satirical take on a wild story that makes for an even more amazingly absurd show, where you are the jury. The show even offers two alternative endings, depending on the result of the jury's vote but you would have to see the show more than once to find out if that is true. Prepare to be gooped and gagged by this foolishly frivolous and ridiculously entertaining parody production.
Gwyneth Goes Skiing — a show that was enjoyed by both Paltrow’s and Sanderson’s lawyers during its sold-out U.S. transfer — runs at Birmingham Hippodrome until Thursday 31st October 2024, with tickets on sale from £23-25.
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