Review: GWYNETH GOES SKIING, The Pleasance
Gwyneth Goes Skiing is a joke gone too far but then decides to to say “hey, why not go all the way?” Inspired by the infamous collision between Gwyneth Paltrow and retired Optometrist Terry Sanderson on the ski slopes of Deer Valley in 2016 followed by their 2023 court case, Awkward Productions, in their latest work, push the boundaries of humour with a loving irreverence.
The plot utilises, to its full extent, the 2023 trial in Utah whereby Sanderson attempted to sue Paltrow for $300,000 for injuries sustained by the skiing incident and Paltrow who, in turn, countersued for $1, plus her legal fees. The real-life trial became an infamous moment that would go down in pop culture history.
Awkward Productions, who brought you Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story, How to Live a Jellicle Life, now bring you this piece of modern day, real life comic gold dust to The Pleasance Theatre for three weeks. Gweneth Goes Skiing stars Linus Karp as Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Martin as Terry Sanderson and even features a special on-screen appearance from superstar drag icon Trixie Mattel (RuPaul's Drag Race season 7).
The first half of the show sets the stage by delving into the events leading up to the collision, offering a glimpse into the lives of the characters involved. Karp as Paltrow is a joy to watch as they find her flow and demeanour like it were their own, and Martin as Sanderson contrasts this perfectly as the ‘beige’ retiree. The first half serves as a precursor to the second half which is dedicated to the courtroom drama, and it is in the transition from the lighthearted "before times" to the legal battleground when the performers really find their stride.
Martin as the ‘sad old man’ plays out the tragedy he finds himself in with hilarious conviction. His dual role as a puppeteer adds an extra layer of fun to his performance and highlights the absurdity of the events as he operates a handheld puppet version of Sanderson’s real-life lawyer. Karp is flawless, with their passive aggressive and airy defense.
The show writs itself and in some sections is performed word for word from the actual court case. Quotes such “Well, I lost half a day of skiing” from Paltrow and Sanderson’s lawyer quizzing Paltrow on her friendship with Taylor Swift are unbelievably accurate and inserted into the script with ease. Other famous catchphrases from the Hollywood superstar and Goop founder make frequent appearances such as “conscious uncoupling” and they over talked about naming of her daughter ‘Apple’.
We, as the audience, are the jury and there are plenty of clever moments of audience participation so that no one can sit too comfortably in their seats for long, however, occasionally this convention is drawn out longer than necessary.
Some jokes are pushed too far so they get a little tired, but it is clear the performers are having a good time which is enough to keep you on the slopes for more. The self-awareness and passion to embrace the material gifted to the company, contributes to the overall success of Gwyneth Goes Skiing. Knock over whoever you have to, to get one of the few remaining tickets to this one!
It shouldn’t work, it’s camp and ridiculous but we are pretty sure nobody would except anything less? It delivers what it promises, which is a goopy old time!
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Stephanie Oszstreicher
Gwyneth Goes Skiing plays at The Pleasance in London until 16 February, with further information here.