Gwyneth Goes Skiing, from Awkward Productions, is one of two musicals at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe. It seeks to make theatrical entertainment out of the real life 2023 Utah court hearing concerning the actress Gwyneth Paltrow.
In development for the last few years, and with a pre-established performance history, Awkward Productions, led by Linus Karp, are continuing to develop Karp’s work engaging with popular culture icons. Karp’s previous works include an homage to Cats, the movie version, and the potentially controversial Diana, the Untold and Untrue Story.
Awkward Productions have been grinding their skills on the Fringe theatre scene since before the pandemic lockdowns. In short, they have form, experience, and have learnt how to engage with and enlarge their audience.
Here, we get a tight 80 minutes that explains the backstory of that moment on the slopes of Deer Park Resort in Park City in rural Utah, some eight years ago back in 2016. It then takes us through the highlights of the trial itself.
The backstory is fascinating, and told in Awkward’s signature style of gentle and affectionate pastiche. Karp portrays Paltrow in a way that is gentle on the surface. However, Karp manages to make sharply pointed commentary about the nature of Paltrow’s specific interpretation of celebrity. It’s a beautifully nuanced performance.
Playing Paltrow’s nemesis, optometrist Terry Sanderson, is Joseph Martin, who puts an immense amount of warmth into this difficult role. Sanderson has largely been portrayed as an opportunist, and a liar. Martin finds an inner humanity to Sanderson, whilst poking fun at the absurdity of the entire situation.
It’s very difficult, if not impossible to tell this story with only two people. As well as being joined on the musical tracks by the voices of various queer celebrities, selected members of the audience have some surprisingly key roles to play.
The chosen participants are led through their roles by Karp and Martin, and the video screens that form a part of the overall production. There’s a great deal of fun to be had here. The actual assistant stage manager of the production also joins in, channelling a manner of “done with this nonsense”. It adds a further layer of humour to the entire production.
If you’re expecting a full tilt musical, you’ll probably be disappointed. There are songs, but not a huge number of them, although what there is, is charming. The story is well told, and you gain a good understanding of who all the people involved are, and what happened.
The court section is just as absurd as the actual hearing appears to have been, and there’s a bonus bit of fun as the audience gets to choose who they believe to be telling the truth. We’re assured that there really are two different endings, depending on what the audience decides.
This is a great step up for Awkward, who have worked tirelessly to develop their company, and their rosta of shows. This show might well have an obviously tight budget, but it has a whole lot of heart. We wish it well.
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Gwyneth Goes Skiing continues to tour, along with Awkward’s other shows. Details can be found here.
Featured Image Credit: Jonny Ruff
